Abstract:
The study examined the effect of kohiladi decoction {consisting of tubers of Lasia
spinosa,lAnn, 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 1 mg/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 mg/kg/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.
