Preclinical Evaluation of the Anticoagulant Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Snow Mountain Garlic

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In the genus Allium, it has been shown that some organosulfate compounds of common garlic and onion have an antiplatelet effect. Still, little is known about the anticoagulant activity of the species, Allium ampeloprasum L., specifically Snow mountain garlic; due to its growth site at 6000 m above sea level at temperatures of −10 °C, it could contain different organosulfate compounds. Methods: This study evaluated the anticoagulant effect of a lyophilized aqueous extract of S. mountain garlic in vivo, toxicity in male Wistar rats for 90 days, and the organosulfate compounds present. Results: There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the area under the curve for bleeding time at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg/d of lyophilized aqueous extract of Snow mountain garlic and 100 mg/kg/d of acetylsalicylic acid. The ED50 was 366 ± 2.43 mg/kg. For chronic toxicity in vivo, no histopathological alterations were found at doses below 500 mg/kg. On the other hand, organosulfate compounds were found in the lyophilized aqueous extract of S. mountain garlic that had not been documented to have an anticoagulant effect. Conclusions: We conclude that S. mountain garlic contains anticoagulant compounds which may be candidates for the treatment of thrombosis.