Effect of Kohiladi Decoction on Clotting of Blood

Abstract

The study examined the effect ofkohiladi decoction (consisting of tubers of Lasia spinosa, Linn. entire plant of Centella asiatica Linn. seeds of Vigna radiate Linn, bulbs of Allium cepa Linn and dried fish of Katsuwonus pelamis), a decoction frequently recommended for bleeding piles by Sri Lankan traditional and Ayurvedic physicians. on clotting of blood. This was tested both in vitro (using goat blood and human blood) and in vivo (using rats). The results show that 1mg/ml concentration of decoction prolonged the calcium induced clotting time significantly (goat blood by 55% and human blood by 76%) in in vitro. In contrast, a 380 mgikg/day dose of decoction had no effect on clotting when given as a single dose but shorten the clotting time when given for 2 or 3 days. The decoction also had moderate antioxidant activity when determined by thiobarbitiuric acid reaction substances assay. It is concluded that kohiladi decoction has anticlotting action in vitro and proclotting activity in vivo.