Assessment of in Vitro Anticoagulant Effect of Aqueous Extract of Acacia nilotica on Normal Human Plasma Samples

Background: Hemostasis is the process of forming a hemostatic plug at the site of damaged blood vessels, requiring the combined activities of the vessels, platelets and plasma factors. Localize the reactions involved to the site of injury, repairs and re-establishes blood flow through the injured vessels. Acacia nilotica pods have potentially treated wide range of medical conditions and proved to have multiple effects, Therefore the study was aimed to determine the effects of aqueous pod extracts of Acacia nilotica on some coagulation tests. Methods:This is experimental in vitro study; five platelet-poor plasma samples from normal individuals were examined against different concentrations of Acacia nilotica extract (2.5%, 5%and 10%) in different volumes (25, 50, and 75 μL). Each sample was retested after adding the equal volume of distilled water as a control. Then Prothrombin Time test (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time test (APTT) were measured and recorded. Results: The study results of (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) of aqueous extracts of Acacia nilotica pods showed significantly shortened PT and APTT results with (P-value <0.05) of human plasma samples in a dose-dependent manner when compared with normal plasma treated with distilled water. Also the study showed the shortening was increased with the increase of concentration of Acacia nilotica pod extract. Conclusion: The study showed that the aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica at different concentrations and volumes enhance the coagulation process and this may lead to possible clot formation that can be harmful when taken in large concentration.