MOSCOW, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Russian researchers have developed new compounds based on spruce extracts, which they say, as shown in lab tests, are effective in slowing blood clotting, according to a recently published study.
According to the study published in the open-access scientific journal Polysaccharides, the researchers obtained the chemical compounds after modifying the structure of a natural polysaccharide substance extracted from spruce, a process involving adding sulfates that can make the compounds better dissolve in water.
Natural plant polysaccharides are known for being safe and biocompatible with the human body.
In the study, researchers from the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center, in partnership with the Siberian Federal University and the Russian Ministry of Health, found in lab tests that the modified compounds can work to slow down blood clotting, which is important in preventing diseases such as thrombosis.
In addition, the online report said that the compounds demonstrated strong antioxidant properties, neutralizing up to 96 percent of free radicals -- harmful molecules that can damage cells and speed up aging and the development of diseases.
Researchers believe that the new findings could lead to the development of new, more effective medicines with fewer side effects and lower doses, and that the modified compounds could also be used to develop drug delivery systems and biomedical coatings that resist clot formation. ■