Evaluation of effects of various drugs on platelet functions using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced megakaryocytic human erythroid leukemia cells

The Multifaceted Effects of Non-Steroidal and Non-Opioid Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Drugs on Platelets: Current Knowledge, Limitations, and Future Perspectives

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely utilized pharmaceuticals worldwide. Besides their recognized anti-inflammatory effects, these drugs exhibit various other pleiotropic effects in several cells, including platelets. Within this article, the multifaceted properties of NSAIDs on platelet functions, activation and viability, as well as their interaction(s) with established antiplatelet medications, by hindering several platelet agonists' pathways and receptors, are thoroughly reviewed. The efficacy and safety of NSAIDs as adjunctive therapies for conditions involving inflammation and platelet activation are also discussed. Emphasis is given to the antiplatelet potential of commonly administered NSAIDs medications, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and ketoprofen, alongside non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic medications like paracetamol. This article delves into their mechanisms of action against different pathways of platelet activation, aggregation and overall platelet functions, highlighting additional health-promoting properties of these anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents, without neglecting the induced by these drugs' side-effects on platelets' functionality and thrombocytopenia. Environmental issues emerging from the ever-increased subscription of these drugs are also discussed, along with the need for novel water treatment methodologies for their appropriate elimination from water and wastewater samples. Despite being efficiently eliminated during wastewater treatment processes on occasion, NSAIDs remain prevalent and are found at significant concentrations in water bodies that receive effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), since there is no one-size-fits-all solution for removing all contaminants from wastewater, depending on the specific characteristics of the wastewater. Several novel methods have been studied, with adsorption being proposed as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for wastewater purification from such drugs. This article also presents limitations and future prospects regarding the observed antiplatelet effects of NSAIDs, as well as the potential of novel derivatives of these compounds, with benefits in other important platelet functions.

Growth and physiological response of an endangered tree, Horsfieldia hainanensis merr., to simulated sulfuric and nitric acid rain in southern China

As nitrogen deposition increases, acid rain is gradually shifting from sulfuric acid rain (SAR) to nitric acid rain (NAR). Acid rain can severely affect plant growth, damage ecosystems, and reduce biodiversity. Thus, a shift in acid rain type presents another challenge to the conservation of endangered plant species. We investigated the effect of three acid rain types (SAR, mixed acid rain [MAR], and NAR) and pH on the growth of an endangered Chinese endemic tree, Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr., using simulated rain in a greenhouse environment. Over nine months, growth indices, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity, malondialdehyde content, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were investigated for treated and control saplings. The results indicated that at a pH of 5.6, H. hainanensis could adapt to SAR and MAR, but NAR inhibited below-ground growth. At a pH of 2.5 and 4.0, SAR inhibited stem and leaf biomass accumulation, whereas NAR inhibited root biomass accumulation and altered root morphology. MAR had intermediary effects between those of SAR and NAR. Adverse effects on leaf physiology were reduced as the rain type shifted from SAR to NAR; however, roots were increasingly adversely affected. Our results suggest that conservation efforts for H. hainanensis should shift from an above-ground to a below-ground focus as acid rain transitions toward NAR.