A Preliminary Novel Findings on Invitro Anti-Coagulant Activity of Acalypha Indica Linn Leaf Extracts

The current study focuses on anticoagulant activity of leaf extract of Acalypha indica (A.indica) and to identify the active constituents present and responsible for the anti-coagulation activity. On sequential extraction of plant materials with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, ethanol and aqueous, crude extracts were obtained and screened for anti-coagulant activity. Anticoagulant activity of six different leaf extracts of A.indica was tested using prothrombin time (PT). In vitro anticoagulation assays were performed with different concentrations of the leaf extract on citrated plasma obtained from healthy volunteer donors. The different concentrations of crude extract tested in the present study were 0.062, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 gm/ml. The anti-coagulant activity of six extracts exhibited a concentration dependent activity. Among the six tested extracts, petroleum ether exhibited a highest activity by increased prothrombin time of 60min and 5 sec at 0.5gm/ml compared to positive and negative control. This is followed by aqueous, n-butanol, chloroform and ethyl acetate extract. It was also noted that ethanol extract showed no prolonged prothrombin time and it was within the normal level as compared to the control. Phytochemical screening of different extracts revealed the presence of steroids, terpenoids, tannin, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids as secondary metabolites. From the results, for the first time it was highlighted that the A.indica leaf extracts affects the intrinsic pathway of coagulation cascade and thus prolongs the clotting time, hence this plant can be used in the management of blood clotting diseases.