Avee Joy B. Dayaganon | Ma. Lydia S Sarpong | Julidette B. Sapilan | Angelie M. Dagoc
Blood tests are routine laboratory analyses that require the use of anticoagulants like ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Commercially prepared EDTA tubes are costly. The study aimed to investigate and compare the anticoagulant property of three plants namely horseradish (Moringa oleifera), oregano (Coleus aromaticus), and kamias (Averrhoa bilimbi) towards development of possible alternative for EDTA. M. olieifera and C. aromaticus ethanolic leaf extracts and A. bilimbi fruit juice were prepared by standard laboratory protocols. Human blood cells were appropriately NSS-suspended, stained, and treated with the plant extracts, analyzed microscopically and macroscopically and compared with cells treated with EDTA as positive control. Results showed that of the test treatments, C. aromaticus leaf extract showed the highest capability as an anticoagulant. M. oleifera leaf extract showed a similar anticoagulant effect but could hold the blood sample for a shorter period. A. bilimbi fruit juice exhibited the shortest period of anticoagulation and most clumping and crenation of cells. Statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the experimental data demonstrates significant difference (p<0.05) on the anticoagulant activity of the four treatments; meaning, C. aromaticus, M. oleifera, and A. bilimbi extracts and EDTA had varying in vitro capacity to hold the normal structure of the human blood cells. Post hoc multiple statistical analysis showed no significant difference (p<0.05) between C. aromaticus anticoagulant activity and that of EDTA as positive control; meaning, C. aromaticus leaf extract and EDTA showed comparable capacity to hold blood normal structure in vitro. Hence, C. aromaticus leaf extract can potentially be developed as an alternative to commercial EDTA as blood anticoagulant.
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