In-vitro studies of Bryophyllum pinnatum Crude Extract on Blood Coagulation Indices: An Investigation on its Traditional Medicine Use

Background: Bryophyllum pinnatum extract is used by African natives to stop epistaxis [nose bleeding], postpartum bleeding as well as fresh wounds bleeding. Aim: This study was carried out in order to evaluate the coagulant effects and properties of crude B. pinnatum extract using in-vitro blood coagulation screening tests. Materials and Methods: Healthy volunteers were used for the study and the following tests were performed: prothrombin time (PT), Partial Thromboplastin Time with Kaolin (PTTK), Thrombin Time (TT), Euglobulin Lysis Time (ELT), bleeding time (BT) and whole blood coagulation time (WBCT). Blood samples were collected from adult male and female volunteers by trained phlebotomist from the thumb and venous puncture depending on the type of coagulation test. Results: B. pinnatum extract produced a profound decreased in PT, PTTK, TT and ELT times which were concentration dependent. Extract concentrations of 84 mg/ml produced a highly significant reductions (p< 0.05) in PT, PTTK and TT with 1.68 ± 0.16, 7.1 ± 0.28, 1.06 ± 0.19 sec respectively. Whole blood coagulation time was decreased by 84mg/ml concentration but not significantly. Results also showed that bleeding time was significantly reduced by 84 mg/ml concentration of B. pinnatum extract. The effect on plasma showed that the extract had coagulant property without the addition of activating agent to the platelet-poor plasma. Conclusion: This investigation confirms the traditional use of this plant extract in the treatment of bleeding episodes, indicating that the extract has blood coagulant properties and therefore could potentially be used in fibrinogen abnormality, deficiency of factors XII, XI, IX, or VIII, heparin in blood.