A review on gentisic acid as a plant derived phenolic acid and metabolite of aspirin: Comprehensive pharmacology,toxicology, and some pharmaceutical aspects

Beneficial therapeutic effects of phenolic acids have been proven in various research projects including in vivo and in vitro studies. Gentisic acid (GA) is a phenolic acid that has been associated with useful effects on human health, such as antiinflammatory, antigenotoxic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and especially antioxidant activities. It is an important metabolite of aspirin and also widely distributed in plants as a secondary plant product such as Gentiana spp., Citrus spp., Vitis vinifera, Pterocarpus santalinus, Helianthus tuberosus, Hibiscus rosa‐sinensis, Olea europaea, and Sesamum indicum and in fruits such as avocados, batoko plum, kiwi fruits, apple, bitter melon, black berries, pears, and some mushrooms. This study was undertaken to review the pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetic properties as well as toxicity and pharmaceutical applications of GA.     

Arachidonic acid-stimulated platelet tests: Identification of patients less sensitive to aspirin treatment

Serum thromboxane-B2 (TxB2), together with arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation, are, at the moment, the most used tests to identify patients displaying high on-aspirin treatment platelet reactivity (HAPR). Both tests are specific for aspirin action on cyclooxygenase-1. While the correlation between serum TxB2 assay and clinical outcome is established, data are conflicting with regard to aspirin treatment and a possible association with AA-stimulated platelet markers and clinical outcome. To understand such discrepancy, we performed a retrospective study to compare both assays. We collected data from 132 patients receiving a daily dose of aspirin (100?mg/day) and data from 48 patients receiving aspirin on alternate days. All Patients who received a daily dose of aspirin were studied for AA-induced platelet aggregation together with serum TxB2 levels and AA-induced TxB2 formation was also studied in 71 patients out of entire population. Consistent with recommendations in the literature, we defined HAPR by setting a cut-off point at 3.1?ng/ml for serum levels of thromboxane B2 and 20% for AA-induced platelet aggregation. According to this cut-off point, we divided our overall population into two groups: (1) TxB2?<?3.1?ng/ml and (2) TxB2?>?3.1?ng/ml. We found low agreement between such tests to identify patients displaying HAPR. Our results show that AA-induced platelet aggregation >20% identify a smaller number of HAPR patients in comparison with TxB2. A good correlation between serum TxB2 and arachidonic acid-induced TxB2 production was found (r?=?0.76619).     

Aspirin and nonaspirin nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use and occurrence of colorectal adenoma in Black American women

Evidence suggests that aspirin use reduces the occurrence of colorectal neoplasia. Few studies have investigated the association among Black Americans, who are disproportionately burdened by the disease. We assessed aspirin use in relation to colorectal adenoma among Black women. The Black Women's Health Study is a prospective cohort of self-identified Black American women established in 1995. Participants reported regular aspirin use on baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Beginning in 1999, participants reported undergoing a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, the only procedures through which colorectal adenomas can be diagnosed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between aspirin use and colorectal adenoma among 34 397 women who reported at least 1 colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. From 1997 through 2018, 1913 women were diagnosed with an adenoma. Compared to nonaspirin users, regular users had 14% (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.95) lower odds of adenoma. The odds of adenoma decreased with increasing duration of aspirin use (≥10 years: OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.66-0.96). Initiating aspirin at a younger age was associated with a reduced adenoma occurrence (age < 40 years at initiation: OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.55-0.86). Regular aspirin use was associated with a decreased odds of colorectal adenoma in our study of Black women. These findings support evidence demonstrating a chemopreventive impact of aspirin on colorectal neoplasia and suggest that aspirin may be a useful prevention strategy among US Black women.     

Low-dose aspirin therapy and periodontal attachment loss in ex- and non-smokers

BACKGROUND, AIMS: This study investigated the periodontal status of non-smokers and ex-smokers in relation to their intake of low-dose aspirin. METHODS: A self-selected sample of 392 males aged 50 years and over was recruited from the general population. Subjects were included in the study if they had a minimum of 6 or more natural teeth, took aspirin (300 mg or less per day) for at least 2 years and were either ex- or non-smokers. Controls were subjects who did not take aspirin regularly. A questionnaire was used to record demographic data, medical and dental histories. Individuals who had diabetes or other systemic diseases were excluded from the study. Periodontal attachment loss (PAL) was calculated by adding measurements of gingival recession and periodontal pocket depth made by a single examiner at 6 sites around each tooth using non-pressure sensitive periodontal probes. Plaque and gingival bleeding indices were also scored. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: aspirin non-smokers, aspirin ex-smokers, no aspirin non-smokers and no aspirin ex-smokers. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA with age as the covariate. Severity and extent of mean PAL and the cumulative distribution of the mean of the most severe sites (MSS) of PAL were analysed. RESULTS: Controlling for age, mean PAL in aspirin takers was significantly less 2.6+/-0.08 (se) mm than non-aspirin takers 2.9+/-0.06 (se) mm; this association was independent of smoking history. Ex-smokers had significantly more mean PAL 3.9+/-0.07 (se) mm than non-smokers 2.6+/-0.08 (se) mm, irrespective of aspirin status. When MSS-PAL was analysed, these differences became more pronounced; MSS-PAL in aspirin takers was significantly less 3.9+/-0.1 (se) mm than non-aspirin takers 4.2+/-0.08 (se) mm. Ex-smokers had significantly more MSS-PAL 4.3+/-0.08 (se) mm than non-smokers 3.8+/-0.08 (se) mm. Aspirin apparently had a protective association on PAL and it is hypothesised that low-dose aspirin may have reduced the rate of attachment loss. CONCLUSIONS: This hypothesis needs to be confirmed by a prospective study. The results of this study suggest that individuals aged over 50 years, particularly ex-smokers, may benefit by taking low-doses of aspirin daily to reduce their risk of periodontal attachment loss.