Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., Vol.30, No.5, September 2017, pp.1709-1713 1709 Evaluation of Artemisia scoparia for hemostasis promotion activity Moniba Sajid 1 , Muhammad Rashid Khan *1 , Naseer Ali Shah 2 , Tayyaba Sher Waris 1 , Tahira Younis 1 , Shafi Ullah 1 and Nadeem Ahmed 3 1 Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan 2 Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan 3 Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan Abstract: Excessive hemorrhage through any reasons is a life threatening process. Artemisia scoparia of family Asteraceae has been used in local system of medicine to stop bleeding from wounds and in injuries, antiseptic, in healing urticarial and for removal of worms from the body. Aerial parts of A. scoparia was extracted with 95% methanol (ASM) and fractionated through liquid-liquid partition in ascending order of n-hexane (ASH), chloroform (ASC), ethyl acetate (ASE), and the remaining as the aqueous fraction (ASA). Phytochemical classes of the extract/fractions were determined by qualitative assays. Prothrombin time (PT) was estimated on the plasma of human blood by Owren method. Capillary tube method was applied to determine the hemostasis activity in Sprague-Dawley rat. Tannins, saponins, terpenoids, quinones, betacyanins and flavonoids were present whereas phlobatannins, anthraquinones and alkaloids were established absent in ASM, ASC, ASE and ASA. Prothrombin time was significantly decreased by mixing (10 μg) of ASM (16.67±1.15 sec), ASH (12.33±0.57 sec), ASC (15.33±0.57 sec) and ASA (9.0±1.0 sec) to that of vehicle (20.0±1.0 sec). Administration (200 mg/kg) of all the extract/fractions showed significantly less (26.00±11.79 sec - 41.00±7.21 sec) hemostasis time as compared to the (242.67±39.67 sec) control rats. The results suggested the therapeutics importance of A. scoparia use in bleeding pathologies. Keywords: Artemisia scoparia, phytochemical, blood clotting, prothrombin time, hemostasis. INTRODUCTION Blood loss from cuts, bruises and in clinical settings threaten the life safety of patients. The blood clotting is a very complex phenomenon and involves many factors resides in the plasma and tissues. Blood coagulation is the process of forming a clot to stop bleeding. The body relies on the interaction of three processes to stop bleeding. Primary hemostasis involves the vasoconstriction and platelet plug, while in secondary hemostasis clotting factors are engaged. These factors elicit each other in process called clotting cascade. Two separate pathways, the intrinsic and the extrinsic, take place in the clotting cascades that interacts each other. Activation of the extrinsic pathway occurs by external trauma that causes blood to get away from the vascular system. This pathway occurs more rapidly than the intrinsic pathway. Factor VII is involved in it and the intrinsic pathway involves factors XII, XI, IX and VIII. The intrinsic pathway’s activation occurs by trauma inside the vascular system, and also activated by chemicals, platelets, exposed endothelium or collagen. This pathway is more vital but slower than the extrinsic pathway. Both pathways come to an end at the pathway of clot production in what is known as the common pathway. The common pathway entails factors I, II, V, and X (Chen et al., 2012). On account of hemostasis importance it is necessary to evaluate new, easy and affordable agents for the therapeutic uses. In this context medicinal plants provide alternative and complementary agents to achieve the required goal. Artemisia common name wormwood is the part of most extensive dispersed genus of Asteraceae family. This genus is comprised of 300-400 kinds of herbs and shrubs which are used by medicinal industries on account of very valuable secondary metabolites and essential oils. Artemisia scoparia is dispersed in different regions of the world. It is found in China, India, Europe, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Thailand, Japan, Korea and Pakistan (Hayat et al., 2009). At present, 38 Artemisia species have been recognized and confirmed in the arid as well as semiarid areas of Northern Punjab, Kashmir, KPK and Baluchistan province of Pakistan (Hayat et al., 2009). It grows up in the summer season, in sandy soil of barren areas at an altitude of 450 to 4000m. It is a perennial and slightly aromatic herb. Locally it is called Jhahoo, Lasaj, Dona, Marua and Churi Saroj (Khan et al., 2014). In subcontinent (India-Pakistan) A. scoparia is traditionally used for the treatment of various disorders. It’s extract was applied on wound to protect them from infectious agents (Schlimmer, 1970). It is considered to be very effective in burn conditions (Ahmad and Javed, 2007). This plant is affluent in volatile oils that display a broad spectrum of biological activity and has extensive application in medicine. Artemisia scoparia has been known for its antipyretic, anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antibacterial, cholagogue, diuretic and vasodilator properties. It has also been used for the treatment of gall *Corresponding author: e-mail: moniba_qau@yahoo.com