p-Terphenyl curtisian E inhibits in vitro platelet aggregation via cAMP elevation and VASP phosphorylation

Mushrooms possess untapped source of enormous natural compounds showing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-platelet activities. Paxillus curtisii, wild mushroom, is a rich source of curtisian E (CE) reported for neuroprotective effects; however, its anti-platelet effect was unknown. Here, therefore, we investigated the anti-platelet activity of CE in rat platelets. Curtisian E (12.5–200 μM) attenuated collagen (2.5 μg/ml), thrombin (0.1 U/ml) and ADP (10 μM) induced platelet aggregation in vitro. Likewise, CE diminished intracellular calcium and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release in collagen activated platelets. Fibrinogen binding and fibronectin adhesion to platelets were also inhibited. While CE downregulated c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and Akt dose dependently in collagen stimulated platelets, it upregulated intraplatelet cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and vasodilator-stimulated-phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation. Protein kinase A inhibitor (H-89) markedly inhibited p-VASP157 protein expression, suggesting that cAMP-PKA-VASP157 pathway may mediate its anti-platelet effect and thus CE could be considered as a potential anti-thrombotic agent.

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