The Inhibitory Effects of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis Larvae Extract on Human Platelet Aggregation and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Expression

The white-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis, is used as a traditional remedy against liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, and hepatic cancer. In this study, we investigated if P. brevitarsis extract (PBE) inhibited platelet aggregation via integrin αIIb/β(3) regulation. We observed that PBE inhibited αIIb/β(3) activation by regulating the cyclic nucleotides, cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Additionally, PBE affected phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Akt, SYK, glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β, cytosolic phospholipase A(2), and p38 expression, which are signal transduction molecules expressed by platelets, and consequently suppressed αIIbβ3 activity and thromboxane A(2) generation. Taken together, PBE showed strong antiplatelet effects and may be used to block thrombosis- and platelet-mediated cardiovascular diseases.