IOSR Journal Of Pharmacy And Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS) e-ISSN:2278-3008, p-ISSN:2319-7676. Volume 15, Issue 1 Ser. II (Jan –Feb 2020), PP 26-34 www.Iosrjournals.Org DOI: 10.9790/3008-1501022634 www.iosrjournals.org 26 | Page Assessment of Haemostatic Activity of Medicinal Plants Using In Vitro Methods: A Concise Review A. M. R. Chamara, G. Thiripuranathar* College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka *Correspondence should be directed to:College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Adamantane House, No 341/22 Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka. Abstract: Invitro screening of plants for their haemostatic activity is gaining attention due to the concerns related to dietary habits and the ability of the bioactive molecules to develop as effective drugs without undesirable side effects. Studies related to haemostatic activities are reported, mainly designed on the ethnomedical or folkloric information available. Different extractions methodologies, analysis of the phytochemical constituents and biochemical assays used in invitro haemostatic determination were assessed. Conventional extraction methodologies have used in isolation and identification of the plant secondary metabolites. Biochemical tests such as, Platelet Aggregation, Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) Thromboplastin Time (TT), have commonly used to investigate haemostatic potential. The succulent extraction process in isolating secondary metabolites from plant materials could be used as an alternative method of drying plant materials. Use of cheminformatics to identify plants with possible bioactivities and the use of Thin Layer Chromatography as a simple identification method of possible haemostatic compounds is also conversed. A cytotoxicity assay could be valuable to determine the cell viability in presence of the plant extract. A bioassay guided in vitro analysis could be beneficial, as some plant extracts could contain compounds with both pro- coagulation and anticoagulation activities. Key Word:haemostatic activity, plant extraction, antiplatelet, anticoagulation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 17-01-2020 Date of Acceptance: 05-02-2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abbreviations: APTT - Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time, ADP - Adenosine diphosphate, CHCl 4 – Chloroform, DCM – Dichloromethane, EtOH – Ethanol, EtOAc - Ethyl acetate, FIB - Fibrinogen assay, GC-MS - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography, MeOH – Methanol, n-BtOH- n-butanol, PE - Petroleum ether, PT - Prothrombin Time, TT - Thromboplastin Time I. Introduction Haemostasis can be identified as the arresting of blood loss from the damaged blood vessels. During the haemostasis, the blood that is in the usual liquid state would be converted to a gel like state, initiating the wound healing process 1 . This is a dynamic process in which clot formation, anticoagulation and clot dissolution are in balance 2 . There are three main steps associated with the haemostasis. Vasoconstriction or the constriction of the blood vessels at the sight of injury is the initial step. Formation of the platelet plug as a temporary blockage (primary haemostasis) and the formation of the fibrin clot (blood coagulation or secondary haemostasis) occurs afterwards 3 . Coagulation of blood is a complex process which is tightly regulated at cellular level 4 . Haemostatic agents can speed up this process by affecting these main steps. Contrast to haemostatic agents, antithrombic agents retard the platelet aggregation whereas anticoagulating agents have the ability to stop coagulation after the initial platelet aggregation step 5 . Platelets (thrombocytes) are the smallest morphotic component in blood. Platelets have an important function in many biological processes including haemostasis, inflammation and thrombosis 6,7 . Dysfunction platelet activity can have an adverse effect in health 8 . Platelet hyperactivity or increase platelet activity can cause coagulation without vascular damage which is known as the vascular thrombosis. Increment of platelet activity has also recognized to be associated with some diseases such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction 9,10 . Antiplatelet drugs are used in clinical treatment of coronary syndromes and strokes 6,11,12 . ADP, arachidonic acid, collagen, or thrombin are some commonly known agonists that triggered platelet aggregation 6 . The secondary haemostatic or the final stage of haemostasis is regulated in two separate pathways, the intrinsic pathway and the extrinsic pathway, leading to the production of fibrin clot from fibrinogen. Several enzymes, known as clotting ‘Factors’ are involved in the plasmatic coagulation. These clotting Factors that are