ORIGINAL ARTICLE P J M H S VOL .5 NO.2 APR – JUN 2011 278 Effects of Aspirin and Nigella Sativa on Coagulation Profile in Albino Rats for four Weeks Duration AKHTAR MUNIR, KHALID QAYYUM*, MUHAMMAD FAROOQ** ABSTRACT Ninety albino rats were selected and were divided into six groups on the basis of different diets given. Control group (I) was fed on synthetic diet and experimental groups (IIA, IIB, IIC, IID and IIE) were fed on 1 mg aspirin, 15mg, 30 mg, 45 mg Nigella Sativa per kg body weight respectively while IIE was given 30 mg NS and 1 mg aspirin/kg body wt. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture and Coagulation parameters were done. APTT was reduced significantly in groups taking different concentration of NS when compared with control. Percentage of clot retraction was weak significantly in groups taking aspirin only when comparing with other groups. Key words: Aspirin, Nigella Sativa INTRODUCTION Petroleum ether extracts produced significant shortening in the whole blood clotting times and activated partial thromboplastin time. No significant effect was shown on the prothrombin time and thrombin time 1 . The fatty extract and petroleum ether inhibited the fibrinolytic activity in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism of this effect is not known but it may be due to an inhibitory effect on the activation of plasminogen or inhibiting the plasmin activity 2,3,4 . Seeds of Nigella sativa are given with butter and milk to cure obstinate hiccup. Seeds are employed as a purgative. They are also useful in indigestion, loss of appetite, fever, diarrhea, and puerperal disease etc 7,8 . NS produced significant shortening in kaolin cephalin clotting time. Ether extracts and fatty extract produced a significant shortening in bleeding time 5,6 . SUBJECTS AND METHODS Ninety male albino rats were divided into different groups on the basis of diet (Table1). Blood sampling was done at 4 th week. Special Haematological investigation (PT, APTT and fibrinogen) were performed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Pathology, Kohat Institute of Medical Sciences, Kohat *Assistant Professor ENT, Kohat Institute of Medical Sciences, Kohat **APMO Services Institute of Medical Sciences/Services Hospital, Lahore Correspondence to Dr. Akhtar Munir, Assistant Professor Pathology Table I: Groups of animals based on diet Groups No. of animals Type of diet/rat twice a day I (Control) 15 10gms (synthetic diet) Experimental group -II 75 IIA 15 0.2 mg aspirin & 10g synthetic diet IIB 15 3.0 mg Nigella Sativa & 10g synthetic diet IIC 15 6.0 mg Nigella Sativa & 10g synthetic diet IID 15 9.0 mg Nigella Sativa & 10g synthetic diet IIE 15 0.2 mg aspirin + 3 mg Nigella sativa & 10g synthetic diet RESULTS The results of different groups at 4 th week are shown in Table 2. Table 2: Specific haematological investigations in experimental and control groups at 4 th week Groups PT (Second) APTT (Second) Fibrinogen (mg/dl) IA (Control) 12.6±1.44 (11-14) 34.8±2.16 (35-38) 231±66.4 (175-340) IIA 12.4±1.14 (11-14) 33.6±1.67 (32-36) 255±45.2 (155-340) IIB 12.6±1.14 (11-14) 28.6±1.94 (28-32) 170-7.90 (165-180) IIC 12.2±1.3 (11-14) 39.6±2.6 (26-31) 246±81.13 (175-375) IID 12.6±0.9 (11-14) 29.4±2.4 (26-32) 271±76.5 (180-375) IIE 12.0±1.0 (11-13) 34.8±2.2 (32-38) 186±32.3 (155-230) Statistical Analysis I vs IIA NS NS NS I vs IIB NS HS NS I vs IIC NS HS NS I vs IID NS HS NS I vs IIE NS NS NS