Mechanism of Hemostatic Activity of Eupatorium odoratum

Abstract

The pressed extract of the leaves of Eupatorium odoratum is popularly employed traditionally to arrest bleeding from cuts and for wound dressing. Preliminary investigations showed that the leaf extract of E. odoratum significantly reduced bleeding time in guinea pigs and rabbits. The effect was traced largely to its vasoconstrictor activity similar to that of adrenaline. In vitro studies showed that the extract concentration-dependently contracted both the rat and guinea pig vasa deferentia and rabbit arterial strips while having no effect on isolated guinea pig ileum and rat stomach strip preparations. The extract-induced contractions were blocked by low concentrations of prazosin but not by atropine, propranolol, mepyramine or pimoxide. These results suggest that the hemostatic action of E. odoratum may be partly due to a-receptor mediated vasoconstriction.