Hemostatic and Antihemolytic Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Manihot esculenta (Euphorbiaceae) Leaves.

Manihot esculenta leaves (Euphorbiaceae) are reputed to have hemostatic properties. Traditional medicine practitioners used the leaves to arrest bleeding in post-partum hemorrhage cases. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the aqueous extract of Manihot esculenta leaves (EAME) on blood coagulation in vivo. Twenty rats of both sexes were used in this experiment. Five groups of four rats (200 ± 5 g) received orally distilled water, phytomenadione (15 mg/kg b.w) and Manihot esculenta leaves extract (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w.) for four days and after this period, bleeding time was measured by tail hemorrhage model. Prothrombin time (PT) and platelet count were determined by coagulometer and hematological analyzer respectively. Antihemolytic activity was measured by the methods of 2, 2′-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced hemolysis. EAME at 1000 mg / kg b.w. induced a significant decrease of bleeding time from 421 ± 19, 5 s to 247, 5 ± 25, 6 s (p ? 0, 01, n = 4). The platelet count of a group of rat treated with EAME (1000 mg / kg b.w) was not affected. The application of EAME decreased PT in a concentration-dependent manner, but this decrease was not significant (p ? 0, 05, n = 4). EAME inhibited AAPH-induced hemolysis with IC50 values of 0, 2. 10-2 ± 0, 15 mg/ml. EAME exhibits hemostatic and antihemolytic effects. The hemostatic property of EAME in vivo justifies the use of Manihot esculenta leaves in the treatment of post-partum hemorrhage cases.