Thromb Haemost 1996; 76(03): 450-452
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1650598
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Antiplatelet Activity in Onion (Allium cepa) Is Sulfur Dependent

Irwin L Goldman
1   The Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the William A. Middleton Veteran’s Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
,
Murray Kopelberg
1   The Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the William A. Middleton Veteran’s Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
,
Jan E P Debaene
1   The Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the William A. Middleton Veteran’s Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
,
Bradford S Schwartz
2   The Departments of Biomolecular Chemistry and Medicine (Hematology), University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the William A. Middleton Veteran’s Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received 19. September 1995

Accepted after resubmission 24. Mai 1996

Publikationsdatum:
10. Juli 2018 (online)

Summary

Plants of the genus Allium such as onion and garlic are often consumed as a source of compounds which inhibit human platelet activity, with the goal of decreasing vascular disease. Antiplatelet activity in these plants is determined in part by native concentrations of organosul-fur compounds. Evaluation of four onion genotypes grown in a field study at four US locations in 1994 demonstrated onions with mild flavor and low sulfur content exhibited significantly lower antiplatelet activity than those containing high levels of sulfur. Antiplatelet activity was significantly positively correlated with genotypically determined bulb sulfur content and dissolved solids, indicating these latter factors are good predictors of antiplatelet strength. These data demonstrate antiplatelet activity is genotype dependent and correlated with bulb sulfur content. Genotype and bulb sulfur content should be taken into account in studies assessing onion antiplatelet effects.

 
  • References

  • 1 Block E. The organosulfur chemistry of the genus Allium - Implications for the organic chemistry of sulfur. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 1992; 31: 1135-1178
  • 2 Lawson LD. Bioactive organosulfur compounds of garlic and garlic products: role in reducing blood lipids. In: Douglas KinghomA, Balandrin ManuelS. eds American Chemical Society Symposium 534. Human Medicinal Agents from Plants; San Francisco, CA: April 5-10 1992: 306-332
  • 3 Kendler BS. Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa): a review of their relationship to cardiovascular disease. Preventative Medicine 1987; 16: 670-685
  • 4 Ariga T, Oshiba A, Tamada T. Platelet aggregation inhibitor in garlic. Lancet 1981; 2: 150
  • 5 Kiesewetter H, Jung F, Pindur G, Jung EM, Mrowietz C, Wenzel E. Effect of garlic on thrombocyte aggregation, microcirculation, and other risk factors. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapy, and Toxicology 1991; 29: 151-155
  • 6 Makheja AN, Vanderhoek JY, Bryant RW, Bailey JM. Altered arachi-donic acid metabolism in platelets inhibited by onion or garlic extracts. In: Advances in prostaglandin and thrombosis research Samuellson B, Ramwell PW, Paoletti R. eds New York: Raven Press; 1980. 6 309-312
  • 7 Goldman IL, Schwartz BS, Kopelberg M. Variability in blood platelet inhibitory activity of Allium (Alliaceae) species accessions. American Journal of Botany 1995; 82 (07) 827-832
  • 8 Randle WM, Bussard ML. Pungency and sugars of short-day onions as affected by sulfur nutrition. Joum Amer Soc Hort Sci 1993; 118: 766-770
  • 9 Schwimmer S, Weston W. Enzymatic development of pyruvic acid in onion as a measure of pungency. J Agric Food Chem 1961; 9: 301-304
  • 10 Mann L, Hoyle B. Use of refractometer for selecting onion bulbs high in dry matter for breeding. J Amer Soc Hort Sci 1945; 46: 285-289
  • 11 Schwartz BS, Monroe MC. Human platelet aggregation is initiated by peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide in vitro. J Clinical Investigation 1986; 78: 1136-1141
  • 12 Randle WM. Onion germplasm intercts with sulfur fertility for plant sulfur utilization and bulb pungency. Euphytica 1992; 59: 151-156