Botanical Products and Aspirin

To determine the relevance of in vitro results to clinical setting, Srivastava extended his previous in vitro study (27) to seven healthy female volunteers, who received 5 g of fresh ginger daily for one week. The serum thromboxane activity (thromboxane B2 formation) at baseline was not significantly different compared to that obtained after one week of ginger administration. There were also no evidence of ecchymosis or reports of unusual bleeding episodes (34). 

Eight healthy male volunteers received a single 2 g dose of dried ginger (Schwartz spice) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Three blood samples were obtained before, and at 3 and 24 hours after dose administration. Ginger intake resulted in no significant effect on bleeding time, platelet count, and platelet aggregation compared to administration of placebo capsules (35). 

Angelica sinensis (Chinese Angelica, Dong Quai) 

In addition to the presence of natural coumarin derivatives, phytochemical analysis found that dong quai also contains ferulic acid and osthole as ingredients. Ferulic acid was reported to have antithrombotic activity (38). Similarly, study using the closely related Angelica pubescens also found osthole to be antithrombotic (39). These two chemical constituents exert their antithrombotic effects by interfering with different pathways responsible 

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