Effects of hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosol acetate administration to rats on platelet function compared to acetylsalicylic acid

Virgin olive oil (VOO) contains the polyphenols hydroxytyrosol (HT) and hydroxytyrosol acetate (HT-AC). This study investigated the antiplatelet effect of HT and HT-AC in healthy rats and compared their effects to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). All compounds were administered orally for 7 days. HT and HT-AC inhibited platelet aggregation in whole blood, with a 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) of 48.25 mg/kg per day for HT, 16.05 mg/kg per day for HT-AC, and 2.42 mg/kg per day for ASA. Platelet synthesis of thromboxane B-2 was inhibited by up to 30% by HT and 37% by HT-AC; the ID50 of this effect for ASA was 1.09 mg/kg per day. Vascular prostacyclin production was inhibited by up to 27.5% by HT and 32% by HT-AC; the ID50 of this effect for ASA was 6.75 mg/kg per day. Vascular nitric oxide production was increased by up to 34.2% by HT, 66% by HT-AC, and 64% by ASA. We conclude that HT and HT-AC administered orally inhibited platelet aggregation in rats and that a decrease in thromboxane synthesis along with an increase in nitric oxide production contributed to this effect.