Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet and Antianemic Effects of Citrus paradisi (Grape Fruit) Juice in Rabbits

Abstract

Medicinal plants are under continuous analysis worldwide to explore new medication to treat atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Citrus fruits have displayed utmost antioxidant activity, particularly flavonoids in Citrus paradisi have exhibited strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. This study was intended to examine effects of C. paradisi on blood coagulation and anticoagulation at doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 ml/kg. Highly significant increase in thrombin time (TT) and substantial decline in fibrinogen (Fb) level was noticed as related to control. There was substantial increase in TT, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and noteworthy decrease in Fb level by warfarin. C. paradisi at 0.3 ml/kg considerably inhibited aggregation of platelet by collagen, adenosine phosphate, arachidonic acid and epinephrine, while there was also substantial rise in Protein C, TAT complex, RBC and hemoglobin concentration. In conclusion, these results suggest that the addition of C. paradisi to the diet of patients at risk of developing cardiovascular events could significantly decrease the morbidity or mortality in these patients due to high contents of phytochemicals like naringin, hesperidin, limonene and other flavonoids.