Hemostatic efficacy of folkloric medicinal plant extract in a rat skin bleeding model

Abstract

Objective To assess the in vivo hemostatic effect of a folkloric medicinal plant extract. Subjects and Methods Wistar rats were randomized into four groups of seven. Group 1, a control group, received no pretreatment and was irrigated with saline. Group 2 received no pretreatment and was irrigated with the plant extract. Group 3, a control group, received pretreatment with heparin and was irrigated with saline. Group 4 received pretreatment with heparin and was irrigated with the plant extract. A standardized skin-bleeding model was created using full-thickness skin defects on the Wistar rats' dorsal skin. To control bleeding, compressive dressings were placed after inserting 1 mL of the plant extract or saline into the bleeding area. Hemostasis time and amount of nasal bleeding were measured in all groups to compare the treatments without and with the plant extract. Results Without heparin pretreatment, the folkloric medicinal plant extract shortened the hemostasis time by 1.29 minute and reduced the amount of bleeding by 0.63 g. With heparin pretreatment, the plant extract shortened the hemostasis time by 2.29 minutes and reduced the amount of bleeding by 0.70 g. Conclusion The medicinal plant extract irrigation was more effective than saline irrigation for treating hemorrhagic skin defects in animals using a compressive dressing with or without heparin pretreatment. © 2012 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.