Anticoagulant Evaluation of Momordica charantia Fruit Flesh Extract on Prothrombin Time and Activated Partial Prothrombin Time Test

Abstract

Thrombotic diseases such as strokes, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism are serious consequences of the thrombus formed in blood vessels. The coagulation cascade is a complicated system that involves clotting factor of extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways. Imbalance between the process can cause excessive clotting that led to thrombosis. Although several anticoagulants drugs have been developed over the decades, most are accompanied by undesirable side effects such as mild or severe bleeding. Therefore, this study has made use of the natural resources in the search for complementary and alternative therapies. The methanolic extract of Momordica charantia (MC) (bitter gourd) fruit flesh is utilized to identify their effects through in vitro anticoagulant and thrombolytic activity. The anticoagulant activity is tested using prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial prothrombin time (APTT) test with 10, 20 and 30 mg/ml of MC extraction, while the thrombolytic activity is carried out by using clot lysis assay. Momordica charantia fruit flesh methanolic extract was proven to have significant anticoagulant properties at concentration 20 and 30 mg/ml compared to normal and negative control. The extract however was not significant at 10 mg/ml but still demonstrated some anticoagulation effect. It also revealed a substantial thrombolytic activity at 100 mg/ml, when compared to negative and positive control indicating ability to lyse blood clot. It was discovered by our analysis that Momordica charantia fruit flesh possesses significant anticoagulant and thrombolytic activity which can be further exploited in the treatment of blood coagulation disorder.