A Plant Extract that Prevents Clotting of Mammalian Blood

Abstract

Roots of TerminaUa glabra (Kumbuk—in Sinhala) are used in Ayurvedic medicinal treatment in Sri Lanka, and it has been claimed that a water extract of the roots of T. glabra possesses 'blood anti-coagulant characteristics'. No experimental evidence has yet been reported in favour of or against such a claim. The experiments herein reported were carried out in an attempt to find out whether a water extract of T. glabra has any 'blood anti-coagulant action