Compound in apple, onion can beat blood clots: Study
May 9th, 2012 - 5:56 pm ICT by IANSLondon, May 9 (IANS) Rutin, a chemical present in apple, orange, onion and green and black tea, not only keeps blood clots at bay but can also be part of the treatment against heart attacks and strokes, a study says.
Harvard researchers found that the compound helped block a potentially dangerous enzyme involved in the formation of blood clots. Called protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), the enzyme is released very quickly when blood clots form in the arteries and veins.
Robert Flaumenhaft, professor at the Harvard Medical School, US, who led the study, said: “Rutin proved to be the most potently anti-thrombotic (clotting) compound that we ever tested in this model.
“Clots occur in both arteries and in veins. Clots in arteries are platelet-rich, while those in veins are fibrin-rich. This discovery suggests that a single agent can treat and prevent both types of clots,” added Flaumenhaft, the Journal of Clinical Investigation reports.
Researchers tested the ability of 500 different chemicals - including rutin - to block PDI using scientific models on computers. They found that rutin to be the most effective, which protected from blood clots that occur in arteries and veins, according to the Daily Mail.
In future researchers hope to use rutin in treatments that could be used in patients at the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Scientists find way to harness thrombin's anti-blood clotting properties - Jun 21, 2010
- Drug from Indian spice builds brain cells after stroke - Feb 10, 2011
- Statin can prevent strokes, besides lowering lipids - Jan 05, 2012
- Snake venom studies paves way for therapies for heart disease, cancer - Jul 30, 2010
- New device removes clots from brain - Aug 27, 2012
- Newly mechanism that forms blood clots discovered - Dec 11, 2009
- Dental bugs may trigger fatal heart condition - Mar 26, 2012
- Stretchy patch could help repair wounded skin, damaged arteries - Apr 02, 2011
- Platelet-rich plasma 'a promising treatment for heart attacks' - Jan 18, 2011
- New device uses submarine technology to detect stroke quickly - Mar 30, 2011
- Stent like device effective for removing blood clots - Feb 06, 2012
- Harnessing deadly fumes to reverse heart disease? - Aug 03, 2012
- Not brushing teeth can cause heart attacks - Sep 06, 2010
- Culprits in life-threatening clotting disorder uncovered - Dec 04, 2010
- Single drink doubles stroke risk for an hour - Jul 16, 2010
Tags: apple orange, arteries and veins, black tea, blood clots, chemical present, chemicals, clinical investigation reports, daily mail, discovery, harvard medical school, harvard researchers, heart attacks, journal of clinical investigation, london, models, onion, protein disulfide isomerase, risk, rutin, strokes