www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com t Available online a Pelagia Research Library European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2012, 2 (6):2015-2018 ISSN: 2248 –9215 CODEN (USA): EJEBAU 2015 Pelagia Research Library Haemostatic effect of aqueous extract of mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) 1 Tanko, Y., 1 Eze, E. D., 1 Jimoh, A. 1 Yusuf, K., 1 Mohammed, K. A., 2 Balarabe, F. and 1 Mohammed, A. 1 Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 2 Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Ahmadu Bello University, zaria, Nigeria. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The study investigated the haemostatic effect of aqueous extract of Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) in rats using tail bleeding time and blood clotting time. Rats were divided into four groups of five rats (n=5) animals. Group I served as normal control, Group II received 200mg/kg b w, group III were given 400mg/kg b w while Group IV were administered with 800mg/kg b w of the extract intra-peritoneally for a period of ten days respectively. The findings of this study revealed a significantly decreased (P<0.05) bleeding time and clotting time at all doses 200, 400 and 800md/kg b w after 3 rd day, with a non-significantly decreased (p>0.05) time observed after 6 th and 10 th day of administration plant extract respectively. In conclusion, this justifies the traditional use of Ganoderma Lucidum in stoppage of blood bleeding. Key words: Bleeding time, clotting time, Ganoderma lucidum, haemostasis, rats, _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Haemostasis is a process that prevents excessive blood loss in the body. The haemostatic system represents a delicate balance between pro-coagulant, anticoagulant mechanisms allied to a process of fibrinolysis [1]. There are five major components involved in the haemostatic system, viz: platelets, coagulation factors, coagulation inhibitors, fibrinolysis and blood vessels [2]. Haemostasis is a life saving process and therefore exploration of compounds that facilitate the process is of medicinal importance [3]. Plants are important sources of many biologically active compounds. Plants used in traditional medicine provide an interesting and still largely unexplored source for the development of new drugs [4]. Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst, a popular medicinal mushroom, has been used in traditional medicines in many Asian countries. It has been widely used as medicine to promote health and longevity in China for thousands of years [5]. Studies have shown that Ganoderma lucidum have different active constituents. Some of the chemical constituents of G. lucidum include polysaccharides, proteins, nucleosides, fatty acids, sterols and triterpenes [6]. In East Asia, the fruiting body of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum has been used for centuries. It has long been used as a folk medicine to treat various human diseases such as cancer, hypertension, hepatitis, nephritis and so on [5]. The aim of this study is to investigate the haemostatic activity of aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum in Wistar rats.