Evaluation of in vitro Anticoagulation Effect of the Crude Extract of Bridelia retusa Bark.

Abstract

Background: Blood coagulation disorders are common and existing treatment for these disorders often have serious side effects. Therefore, it is useful to formulate a novel safer anticoagulant medication using herbal extracts supported by scientific evidence validating its ethnomedical and pharmacological applications. Bridelia retusa has a diverse range of natural phytochemicals that possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities in different parts of the plant. Objectives: To evaluate in vitro anticoagulation activity of crude extract of the bark of B. retusa

Methods: This was a lab based experimental study. Initially, methanol crude extract of B. retusa bark was prepared using the maceration method. Then the extract was subjected to a qualitative phytochemical screening. The anticoagulation property was assessed using four different concentration series (5, 10, 15, 20 mg/mL) of crude extract dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) using 20 healthy individuals' blood. Heparin (0.04 mg/mL) and DMSO were taken as the positive control, and negative control, respectively. For each set of test tubes 1 mL of blood and 50 µL of prepared crude extract solution were added. Then the clotting time was evaluated according to the Lee and White method. Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that extraction contained alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, sugar, proteins and saponins. All four concentration series showed greater anticoagulant effects than negative control and 20 mg/mL concentration took maximum time (6.61±1.66 min) for coagulation compared with other concentration series and positive control (5.92±1.49 min).

Conclusion: The methanolic crude extract of B. retusa bark is having anticoagulant activity. Further studies are needed to check the activity in separated compounds of the crude extract.