Development of hemostatic gel preparations from Chromolaena odorata leaf extract

Abstract

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant known as Siam weed used for stop-bleeding in tropical countries for centuries. From our previous studies [1,2], 70% ethanolic extract of the leaves exhibits the highest hemostatic activity while scutellarein tetramethyl ether is an active hemostatic component. The appropriate concentrations of the leaf extract in hydrous and anhydrous gel preparations used for stop-bleeding were studied. The pig skin permeation of gel preparations using a modified Franz cell was determined [3]. The permeated amount of an active component, scutellarein tetramethyl ether was quantified by HPLC [4]. It was found that 0.3 and 1.5% w/w of the extract were appropriate to be developed as gel preparations. They could stop bleeding within 0.30 ± 0.07 min whereas the control (70% ethanol) could stop within 1.14 ± 0.13 min. The percentage of blood precipitation of 0.3 and 1.5% w/w gel preparations were 80 and 90%, respectively. All hydrous and anhydrous formulations, except the 0.3% w/w hydrous gel, could stop bleeding within 0.20 ± 0.05 min. The anhydrous gel containing 1.5% w/w of the extract gave the highest amount of cumulative percent permeation/unit area (%/cm2) during 6 – 30h of the study. The stabilities of the preparations should be further investigated.