Antithrombotic activity of methanolic extract of Umbilicaria esculenta

Antithrombotic activity of methanolic extract of an edible lichen, Umbilicaria esculenta, was evaluated on platelet aggregation in vitro and pulmonary thrombosis in vivo. The extract showed concentration dependent inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation induced by ADP, with IC50 value of 2.4 mg/mL. Orally administered extract protected mice against thrombotic death or paralysis induced by collagen and epinephrine in a dose dependent manner. It produced a significant inhibition of thrombotic death or paralysis at over 100 mg/kg body weight, while aspirin produced a significant inhibition of thrombosis at 10–20 mg/kg body weight. Mouse tail bleeding time was significantly prolonged by addition of the extract. On the other hand, the extract did not show any fibrinolytic activity and alter coagulation parameters such as activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT) in rat platelet. These results suggested that the antithrombotic activity of Umbilicaria esculenta extract might be due to antiplatelet activity rather than anticoagulation activity.