Anti-platelet effects of yuzu extract and its component.

In this study, we investigated whether the methanolic extract of yuzu (yuzu ME) and its components hesperidin and naringin, have anti-platelet activities. Yuzu ME and hesperidin inhibited collagen-, arachidonic acid (AA)-, ADP- and thrombin-induced rat platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo. Naringin also inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, AA, or thrombin, but not aggregation induced by ADP. The oral administration of yuzu ME or hesperidin prolonged mouse tail vein bleeding time in a dose-dependent manner in vivo. These results suggest that yuzu ME and hesperidin have anti-platelet activity, and that intake of yuzu, which includes various flavonoids such as hesperidin, may be beneficial for individuals at high risk of cardiovascular diseases.