LAUSR

Abstract Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is the fifth largest crop in the world and has potential health benefits, but vast quantities of sorghum roots are discarded after harvest. Based on the previous antiplatelet aggregation for this species, two new multi-substituted 3H-indole alkaloids sorghumine A (1) and sorghumine B (2), together with 14 known compounds (3–16), were found from the water extract of sorghum roots. Compounds 1–2 were identified by analyzing their spectroscopic data and physic and chemical properties, and the absolute configuration was further determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis and calculations. 1–2, 4, 6–8 and 13–15 showed significant inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate. 2–4, 6–9 and 11 showed significant inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by collagen. 4–6, 8, 10–11 and 16 showed significant inhibition on platelet aggregation induced by thrombin. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that active compounds can bind to P2Y12 and COX-1 receptors in platelet. Graphical Abstract