Comparative evaluation of antiplatelet effect of lycopene with aspirin and the effect of their combination on platelet aggregation: An in vitro study

Introduction: The objective was to compare antiplatelet effect of lycopene with aspirin and to study effect of combination of the two on platelet aggregation in vitro, using platelets from healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods: Platelets were harvested; platelet count of platelet-rich plasma adjusted to 2.5 10 (5) /L. Aspirin (140 mu mol/L) and lycopene (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mu mol/L) were studied in vitro against adenosine-5- diphosphate (ADP) (2.5 mu M/L) and collagen (1 mu g/ml) by optical aggregometry. To study the effect of combination, two concentrations of lycopene i.e., 8 mu mol/L and 10 mu mol/L were used with aspirin full concentration (140 mu mol/L) and half concentration (70 mu mol/L). Similarly, half concentrations of lycopene, i.e., 4 mu mol/L and 5 mu mol/L were used with aspirin 140 mu mol/L and 70 mu mol/L. Results: All the concentrations of lycopene (4-12 mu mol/L) exhibited reduction in maximum platelet aggregation induced by aggregating agents ADP and collagen (P < 0.01 vs. vehicle) and were comparable with aspirin. Lycopene at concentration 10 mu mol/L showed maximum platelet inhibition (47.05% +/- 19.56%) against ADP, whereas lycopene at concentration 8 mu mol/L showed maximum platelet inhibition (54.26% +/- 30.71%) against collagen. Four mu mol/L of lycopene combined with 140 mu mol/L and 70 mu mol/L aspirin showed greater inhibition of platelets as compared to aspirin 140 mu mol/L alone, against both ADP and collagen. Conclusion: The study favorably compares lycopene and aspirin with respect to their antiplatelet activities against ADP and collagen. Lycopene can be considered as a potential target for modifying the thrombotic and pro-inflammatory events associated with platelet activation.