Effects of Pomegranate, Myrtle, Quercus Fruit, and Rhus coriaria L Extracts on Bleeding Control in Rat

Background: Management of bleeding is among the major issues in medicine, particularly during surgery. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Pomegranate peel and flower, Myrtle, Quercus fruit, and Rhus coriaria L extracts on bleeding control in rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats (weighing 200 - 250 g, 8-10-month-old) with free access to sufficient water and food, were randomly divided into four groups: (a) the topical application of the extracts on tail wounds (bleeding time (B.T.) measurement); (b) intraperitoneal injection of the extracts (measurement of prothrombin time (P.T.) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) in the blood taken from the heart); (c) control group 1 (B.T. measurement on tail wounds without the topical application of the extracts); and (d) control group 2 (no intraperitoneal injection of the extracts, P.T. and PTT measurement in blood drawn from the heart). The animals in all groups received the same care and were kept under standard laboratory conditions, 12:12 h light/dark cycles, and a temperature of 23 ± 2.0°C. The data were analyzed by the one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests. Results: The mean of B.T. in the control group, 3.57 ± 0.20 s, was significantly higher than that in the intervention group (1.56 ± 0.13 s) (P < 0.001). The mean of P.T. in the control group was not significantly different from that in the intervention group (P = 0.499). The mean of PTT in the control group (18.2 ± 24.82 s) was significantly shorter than that in the intervention group (38.00 ± 14.49 s) (P = 0.006). Conclusions: Considering the acceptable coagulant effects of the extracts of Pomegranate peel & flower, Myrtle, Quercus fruit, and Rhus coriaria L. compared to the control group, it can be concluded that these extracts can be suitable adjuvant drugs for controlling bleeding. Although the coagulant effects of these extracts have been mentioned in many traditional medicine texts, human tests are required to reject or confirm their clinical effects.