Dimethyl sulphoxide inhibits platelet aggregation and alters arachidonic acid metabolism

ABSTRACT

Dimethylsulphoxide [DMSO] inhibits human platelet aggregation induced by adrenaline, ADP, arachidonic acid [AA] or collagen in a concentration-related manner. DMSO produced strongest inhibitory effects against ADP-induced aggregation whereas it was a weak inhibitor of AA-induced aggregation. DMSO did not protect rabbits against death from pulmonary platelet thrombosis induced by AA. On the other hand, DMSO exerted differential effects against AA metabolism. It stimulated PG endoperoxide synthase while DMSO inhibited lipoxygenase activity. Since lipoxygenase products play an important role in inflammation, it is possible that inhibition of lipoxygenase by DMSO could lead to beneficial anti-inflammatory activity by comparison with classical PG endoperoxide synthase inhibitors such as aspirin-like drugs