Experimental study on the hemostatic activity of the Tibetan medicinal herbLamiophlomis rotata

Abstract The blood hemostatic activity of the Tibetan medicinal herb Lamiophlomis rotata was evaluated in BALB/c mice and Wistar rats. L. rotata aqueous extract (LRAE) was given to mice at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/kg body weight and 0.75, 1.5, 3.0 g/kg to rats. The hemostatic activity of LRAE was estimated by changes in bleeding time (BT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB). At the same time hepatic function and blood fat indexes including AST, ALT, Alb, Chol and LDL‐C were measured also. The results showed that an appropriate level of LRAE could shorten the BT and TT values and increase the Alb level paralleling that of FIB. However, the shortening of the PT was only possible by a high and long administration of LRAE, and no change in APTT was observed. On the other hand, LRAE showed some effects in improving the liver function and reducing blood lipids by decreasing the levels of AST, ALT, Chol and LDL‐C. All these changes had a significant dose‐effect and time‐effect relationship. These results confirm the hemostatic and thromboplastic effects of L. rotata and these effects might be implemented by improving the synthetic function of the liver. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.