Routine, an ingredient in apples and oranges, helps prevent blood clots, scientists say.
According to research, rutin, which is also found in black and green tea, has a positive effect on preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that the ingredient is useful for blocking a potentially dangerous enzyme involved in blood clots. The protein disulfide isomerase is released very rapidly during the process of blood clot formation in the arteries and veins.
The researchers tested the properties of 500 different chemicals in terms of blocking the harmful enzyme, using specific computer models for scientific purposes.
It turned out that rutin is the ingredient with the most powerful antithrombotic action, compared to other studies, explains Prof. Robert Flaumenhalf of Harvard Medical School.
According to the results, routine is most effective in preventing the formation of blood clots in the arteries and veins.
Scientists believe that in the future, routine may be included in therapies designed for people at risk of heart attack and stroke.
The results are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation .
Good sources of routine are fruits and vegetables with yellow, orange and red colors, such as citrus fruits, mangoes, apricots, as well as rose hips, cherries, grapes, blackcurrants, prunes. Routine is also an ingredient in red wine and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content.