PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR AND LYSO-PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINES FROM STRAWBERRY

Lipids from strawberry fruits, leaves, achenes and pollen were separat ed into classes by TLC, purified by HPLC and tested for biological act ivity. A lipid fraction from fruits with the same chromatographic beha viour as authentic platelet activating factor (PAF) showed identical b iological activity, namely, dose-dependent aggregation of washed rabbi t platelets, inhibition of aggregation by CV 3988, platelet desensitiz ation to PAF and vice versa, and loss of activity by alkaline hydrolys is and recovery of activity by reacetylation. The presence of PAF was confirmed by FAB mass spectrometry. Lyso-phosphatidylcholines, includi ng lyso-PAF, were also found in all the plant parts tested.