Anticoagulant Activity of Crude and Phenolic Extracts of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. Dried Leaves

Abstract

Background: Ischemic diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide; therefore, the search for new compounds with safer and more effective anticoagulant and antiplatelet action becomes relevant. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. dry leaf extract, a species of the Fabaceae family that is commonly found in Brazil, on blood coagulation. Materials and Methods: A statistical design of experiments was carried out with selection of five factors and two levels, resulting in 32 different ethanolic raw extracts. The extracts were resuspended in saline and tested in a pool of human blood. The activated partially thromboplastin time (APTT) and the prothrombin time (PT) were analysed in a Thrombolyzer®. Results: Treatment using ethanol 70%, a drug/solvent ratio of 5%, pH 9 and dynamic maceration for 6 hrs resulted in the best combination for the extraction of total phenols, while ethanol 70%, a drug/solvent ratio of 5% and dynamic maceration for 24 hrs showed the best flavonoid extraction, with the pH being inconclusive. On average, all extracts were capable of increasing both APTT and PT, especially those in lower dilutions (1:5); however, the overall efficacy of the extracts is inconclusive. Conclusion: The species under study showed important results in the blood clotting process in vitro, increasing the mean time of APTT and PT, which suggests that Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. has some potential as a possible drug in the anticoagulant class.