Aged Garlic Extract Inhibits Human Platelet Aggregation by Altering Intracellular Signaling and Platelet Shape Change

Increased platelet aggregation plays a pivotal role in the etiology of cardiovascular disease. Upon platelet aggregation, an increase in free cytoplasmic Ca(2+) results in the inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and adenylyl cyclase (AC), leading to a decrease in cyclic guaninosine-5'-monophosphate (cGMP) and cAMP, respectively. This leads to the activation of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) fibrinogen receptor, resulting in platelet shape change. Aged garlic extract (AGE) decreases platelet aggregation; however, the mechanisms involved are not clearly defined.