University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Division
Hydroxytyrosol: A Dietary Polyphenol with Potent Anti-Platelet Properties
Presenter Hometown
Richmond
Major
Biomedical Science
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Smita Joshi
Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
Recommended Citation
Stone, Ian M., "Hydroxytyrosol: A Dietary Polyphenol with Potent Anti-Platelet Properties" (2026). University Presentation Showcase Event. 7.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2026/undergraduate/7
Abstract
Hydroxytyrosol: A Dietary Polyphenol with Potent Anti-Platelet Properties
Ian Stone and Smita Joshi
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a critical health crisis in Kentucky, which currently ranks 48th in the nation for the disease. Approximately 12.7% of the state's adult population lives with a history of heart attack or stroke. Platelets are central to the pathology of these events; their activation and the subsequent release of dense and alpha granule cargo are essential for the formation of dangerous clots (thrombosis). While current anti-platelet therapies are effective at preventing these clots, they often carry a high risk of spontaneous and dangerous bleeding. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a potent polyphenol found in virgin olive oil and a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, has demonstrated significant cardio-protective and anti-inflammatory properties.
Objective: This study investigates the inhibitory effects of HT on platelet function to further elucidate its mechanism of action and its potential to decouple pathological clotting from necessary physiological wound healing.
Methods: To evaluate the impact of HT on platelet activity, platelets were isolated from plasma via serial centrifugation. We utilized lumi-aggregometry to monitor real-time dense granule secretion in samples treated with varying concentrations of HT compared to untreated controls.
Results: Preliminary data indicate that HT significantly inhibits dense granule secretion. These findings suggest that HT may interfere with specific signaling pathways required for the release of pro-thrombotic cargo in platelet granules.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that HT is a potent inhibitor of platelet granule release, potentially explaining its known cardio-protective benefits.
This research, supported by the Kentucky IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (KY-INBRE), aims to identify molecular targets that may lead to the development of naturally derived antithrombotic agents with a reduced risk of side effects, providing a cost-effective and safe option for long-term preventative care in underserved populations.
Research reported in this project was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20GM103436.
Presentation format
Poster
Hydroxytyrosol: A Dietary Polyphenol with Potent Anti-Platelet Properties
Hydroxytyrosol: A Dietary Polyphenol with Potent Anti-Platelet Properties
Ian Stone and Smita Joshi
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a critical health crisis in Kentucky, which currently ranks 48th in the nation for the disease. Approximately 12.7% of the state's adult population lives with a history of heart attack or stroke. Platelets are central to the pathology of these events; their activation and the subsequent release of dense and alpha granule cargo are essential for the formation of dangerous clots (thrombosis). While current anti-platelet therapies are effective at preventing these clots, they often carry a high risk of spontaneous and dangerous bleeding. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a potent polyphenol found in virgin olive oil and a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, has demonstrated significant cardio-protective and anti-inflammatory properties.
Objective: This study investigates the inhibitory effects of HT on platelet function to further elucidate its mechanism of action and its potential to decouple pathological clotting from necessary physiological wound healing.
Methods: To evaluate the impact of HT on platelet activity, platelets were isolated from plasma via serial centrifugation. We utilized lumi-aggregometry to monitor real-time dense granule secretion in samples treated with varying concentrations of HT compared to untreated controls.
Results: Preliminary data indicate that HT significantly inhibits dense granule secretion. These findings suggest that HT may interfere with specific signaling pathways required for the release of pro-thrombotic cargo in platelet granules.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that HT is a potent inhibitor of platelet granule release, potentially explaining its known cardio-protective benefits.
This research, supported by the Kentucky IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (KY-INBRE), aims to identify molecular targets that may lead to the development of naturally derived antithrombotic agents with a reduced risk of side effects, providing a cost-effective and safe option for long-term preventative care in underserved populations.
Research reported in this project was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20GM103436.
