Background llexonin A (IA), purified from the Chinese herbal medicine Maodongqing (Ilex pubescens Hook, et Am) has been commonly used in south China to treat thrombotic disorders. In this study, we aimed to study the inhibiting effects and mechanism of IA on von Willebrand factor (vWF)-dependent high shear-induced platelet aggregation.Methods vWF-dependent high shear (10 800 s-1) induced aggregation of platelets obtained from normal donors in the presence or absence of IA was measured by a modified cone-plate viscometer and shear-induced vWF binding was measured by quantitative flowcytometry with monoclonal antibody known to bind exclusively to the C-terminal domain of vWF (LJ-C3) directly labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). P-selectin surface expression was also measured by a similar method with FITC conjugated anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody (WGA1).Results Shear-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited by IA in a dose-dependent manner. The extent of aggregation decreased from (78. 6 Background llexonin A (IA), purified from the Chinese herbal medicine Maodongqing (Ilex pubescens Hook, et Am) has been commonly used in south China to treat thrombotic disorders. In this study, we aim to study the inhibiting effects and mechanism of IA on Von Willebrand factor (vWF)-dependent high shear-induced platelet aggregation.Methods vWF-dependent high shear (10 800 s-1) induced aggregation of platelets obtained from normal donors in the presence or absence of IA was measured by a modified cone- Plate viscometer and shear-induced vWF binding was measured by quantitative flowcytometry with monoclonal antibody known to bind exclusively to the C-terminal domain of vWF (LJ-C3) directly labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). P-selectin surface expression was also measured By a similar method with FITC conjugated anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody (WGA1).Results Shear-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited by IA in a dose-dependent manner. The extent of aggregation decr Eased from (78. 6