title: Herbal remedies affecting coagulation: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herbal remedies are used to treat a large variety of diseases, including blood-related disorders. However, a number of herbal preparations have been reported to cause variations in clotting time, this is mainly by disruption of the coagulation cascade.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The compiling of plants investigated for effects on the coagulation cascade.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was withdrawn from Google Scholar and the journal databases Scopus and PubMed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five herbal remedies were identified with antiplatelet, anticoagulant, or coagulating ability. Bioactive compounds included polyphenols, taxanes, coumarins, saponins, fucoidans, and polysaccharides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although research has been conducted on the effect of herbal remedies on coagulation, most information relies on in vitro assays. Contradictory evidence is present on bleeding risks with herbal uses, though herb-drug interactions pose a threat. As the safety of many herbals has not been proven, nor their effect on blood parameters determined, the use of herbal preparations before undergoing any surgical procedure should discontinued.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cordier
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Steenkamp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003029:Coagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D003029:Coagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors