title: Screening for hemostatic activities of popular Chinese medicinal herbs in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify new hemostyptics by assessing the coagulation enhancing activity of 114 Chinese herbal extracts in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herbs were boiled in water for 30 min, filtered and then lyophilized filtrates (10 mg/mL) were dissolved in water. Coagulation was assayed as prothrombin time (PT). Plasma diluted in saline was incubated with each extract for 5 min and then PT reagent was added, followed by CaCl2 solution and the time taken to form clots was measured. Extracts that decreased coagulation time were regarded as containing active compounds. The abilities of extracts to activate Factor XII were assessed and the activated form of factor XII (XIIa) was resolved by SDS-PAGE and visualized by silver staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coagulation time was obviously shortened by extracts of Alpinia Rhizome, Areca, Artemisia Leaf, Cassia Bark, Danshen Root, Ephedra Herb, Epimedium Herb, Forsythia Fruit, Great Burdock Achene, Moutan Bark, Perilla Herb, Red Paeony Root, Schizonepeta Spike, Senticosus Rhizome, Sweet Annie, Uncaria Thorn and Zanthoxylum Peel. Factor XII was obviously activated by extracts of Artemisia Leaf and Great Burdock Achene, and slightly by Perilla herb.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some popular Chinese medicinal herbs have potential as hemostatic agents and could thus be develope as new strategies for the treatment and prevention of bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Pathology, School of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohkura
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Pathology, School of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokouchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Pathology, School of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Pathology, School of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Riki
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Pathology, School of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Gen-Ichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Atsumi
keywords: Hemostatic; herbal treatment; screening