Synthetic and Natural Peptides as Antithrombotic Agents—A View on the Current Development

A view on the current development of synthesis as well as isolation of antithrombotic agents of peptide origin is presented. The structure and action of several anticoagulant peptides/proteins isolated from animal sources during the last 20 years are described. The synthesis of peptide mimetics manifesting even weaker anticoagulant activity is discussed as a main studies purpose. Compounds of both polysaccharides and peptide origin possessing inhibition of platelet aggregation isolated from microbial, animal and plant origin are summarized. Current investigations on a fraction (MW 100–120 kDa) isolated from goat's rue (Galega officinalis L.) appears to have a polysaccharide nature, including a protein part that is presented with special attention due to the high anti-aggregating activity, especially initiated by adenosine diphosphate, collagen and thrombin.