Antiplatelet activity of geranylgeraniol isolated from Pterodon pubescens fruit oil is mediated by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1.

Geranylgeraniol is a natural isoprenoid with anti-inflammatory properties extracted from the Pterodon pubescens Benth. fruit oil (PpO). In this work, the antiplatelet effect of both PpO and geranylgeraniol is investigated. ADP-, thrombin- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced aggregation in human and rabbit platelets showed a prime involvement of PpO and geranylgeraniol in the arachidonic acid cascade. The lack of any significant inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by U-46 619 and thrombin, associated with PpO and geranylgeraniol suppression of prostaglandin E(2) and thromboxane A(2) formation demonstrate, for the first time, the involvement of geranylgeraniol in the AA metabolisation by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzyme.