Horseradish and Antiplatelet Actions

Platelets provide the initial hemostatic plug at sites of vascular injury. They also participate in reactions that lead to atherosclerosis and pathological thrombosis. Antagonists of platelet function have thus been used in attempts to prevent thrombosis and to alter the natural history of atherosclerotic vascular disease. 

Similarly, it has been shown that consumption of cruciferous vegetables is associated with a lower incidence of cancers. Induction of phase II enzymes such as the glutathione S-transferase (GST) and quinone reductase (QR) have been demonstrated in broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts. Many natural isothiocyanates derived from cruciferous vegetables and some fruits have been shown to cause induction of phase II enzymes in cultured cells and rodents. 

Morimitsu et al. (2000) have shown that after incubation with MS-ITC (5 or 10 min), the treated platelets were washed two times with phosphate-buffered saline, and MS-ITC potently inhibited platelet aggregation induced by thrombin. Then, MS-ITC could not show any effects on arachidonic acid cascade (phospholipase A prostaglandin synthase, and thromboxane synthase) in human platelets. 

---