Pathologies associated with hypercoagulable states, including myocardial
infarction, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism, are one of the most
important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the approval of several
new synthetic (including orally active) antithrombotic agents in recent years for
treating such diseases, mainly direct thrombin, and factor Xa inhibitors, concerns still
exist for side-effects, especially bleeding. There is still a therapeutic demand for safe
and effective anticoagulant agents that present fewer side effects than the currently
available drugs. Natural products and semi-synthetic molecules, as well as molecules
inspired by natural scaffolds, have been an important source of drugs in the past
decades. This chapter covers reports published in the last ten years concerning natural
(or semi-synthetic) products that have been reported as in vitro and/or in vivo
antithrombotic agents.
Keywords: Antithrombotics, Anticoagulants, Antiplatelets, Drug Discovery,
Fibrinogen, Factor Xa, Medicinal Chemistry, Natural Products, Platelet
Aggregation, Semi-Synthesis, Thrombin.
