The nitric oxide-mediated actions are mostly due to cyclic GMP (cGMP) formation, but cGMP-independent mechanisms, such as tyrosine nitration, have been suggested as potential signaling pathways modulating the NO-induced responses. However, the mechanisms that lead to tyrosine nitration in platelets are poorly studied, and the protein targets of nitration have not been identified in these cells. Therefore, we have used the model of platelet adhesion to fibrinogen-coated plates to investigate the cGMP-independent mechanisms of the NO-donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) that leads to inhibition of platelet adhesion. SNP concentration-dependently inhibited platelet adhesion, as observed at 15-min and 60-min adhesion. Additionally, SNP markedly increased the cGMP levels, and the soluble guanylate inhibitor ODQ nearly abolished the SNP-mediated cGMP elevations in all experimental conditions used. Nevertheless, ODQ failed to affect the adhesion inhibition obtained with 1.0 mM SNP at 15 min. On the other hand, superoxide dismutase or peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) scavenger epigallocatechin gallate significantly reversed the inhibition of platelet adhesion by SNP (1 mM, 15 min). Western blot analysis in SNP (1 mM, 15 min)-treated platelets showed a single tyrosine-nitrated protein with an apparent mass of ≈105 kDa. Nanospray LC-MS/MS identified the human α-actinin 1 cytoskeletal isoform (P12814) as the protein contained in the nitrated SDS gel band. Thus, tyrosine nitration of α-actinin, through ONOO⁻formation, may be a key modulatory mechanism to control platelet adhesion.

Propolis has various pharmacological properties of clinical interest, and is also considered a functional food. In particular, hydroalcoholic extracts of red propolis (HERP), together with its isoflavonoid formononetin, have recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with known added value against dyslipidemia. In this study, we report the gastroprotective effects of HERP (50–500 mg/kg, p.o.) and formononetin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) in ethanol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced models of rat ulcer. The volume, pH, and total acidity were the evaluated gastric secretion parameters using the pylorus ligature model, together with the assessment of gastric mucus contents. The anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of HERP were evaluated using the agar-well diffusion method. In our experiments, HERP (250 and 500 mg/kg) and formononetin (10 mg/kg) reduced (p < 0.001) total lesion areas in the ethanol-induced rat ulcer model, and reduced (p < 0.05) ulcer indices in the indomethacin-induced rat ulcer model. Administration of HERP and formononetin to pylorus ligature models significantly decreased (p < 0.01) gastric secretion volumes and increased (p < 0.05) mucus production. We have also shown the antioxidant and anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of HERP. The obtained results indicate that HERP and formononetin are gastroprotective in acute ulcer models, suggesting a prominent role of formononetin in the effects of HERP.