An evaluation of the hemostatic effects of hydrophilic, alcohol, and lipophilic extracts of notoginseng.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the hemostatic effects of hydrophilic, alcohol, or lipophilic extract of notoginseng with those of the control and placebo.

DESIGN

Hemorrhagic rat model.

SETTING

Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut; animals were housed at the Hartford Hospital animal facility.

ANIMALS

Sixty-two male Wistar rats. Intervention. Administration of placebo (wheat flour), and alcohol, hydrophilic (water), and lipophilic (hexane) extracts of notoginseng.

METHODS

Rats were divided into five groups, and their tails were transected 5 mm from the tip. Group 1 received no treatment (control), group 2 received placebo, group 3 received alcohol extract, group 4 received hydrophilic extract, and group 5 received lipophilic extract. Total bleeding time was determined and compared among the groups.

MAIN RESULTS

Bleeding time was shorter for the placebo group than the control group (p=0.035). The alcohol extract group had the shortest bleeding time, which was significantly shorter than that of the control (p<0.0001), placebo (p=0.0124), and lipophilic extract groups (p=0.002). The hydrophilic extract group had a shorter bleeding time than the control group (p=0.0058) and showed a trend toward shorter bleeding time than the lipophilic extract group (p=0.068).

CONCLUSIONS

The alcohol extract of notoginseng results in the shortest bleeding time and provides better hemostatic effects than no treatment, placebo treatment, and treatment with lipophilic extract.