CLOT LYSIS AND MEMBRANE PROTECTION POTENTIALS OF CHEILANTHES TENUIFOLIA METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT

Cheilanthes tenuifolia is a little perennial fern that falls within the taxonomic classification of the Pteridaceae botanical family. The plant has a diverse array of phytochemical substances, including alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, and triterpenoids, which have demonstrated promising medicinal properties. This study aimed to evaluate the in-vitro membrane-stabilizing and clot lysis activities of a methanol leaf extract of C. tenuifolia (MCT). For this, we performed hypotonic solution-induced erythrocyte lysing and human blood clot lysis methods to check the membrane stabilizing and clot lysis capacities of MCT using acetylsalicylic acid and streptokinase as standards, respectively. Additionally, we also checked its phytochemical groups. The results of a preliminary phytochemical screening indicate the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins in the plant. MCT inhibited hemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibited 78.93 ± 0.01% hemolysis (IC50 = 46 ± 2.11 µg/ml) at the higher concentration (160 μg/ml), whereas the standard drug, acetylsalicylic acid (IC50 = 64.10 ± 2.08 µg/ml) inhibited 97.71 ± 0.01% at the same concentration. It also exhibited clot lysis in a concentration-dependent manner, where the maximum percentage of clot lysis was observed at 160 μg/100 ml where the IC50 value was 198.41 ± 1.87 µg. The standard drug streptokinase showed 77.51 ± 0.01% clot lysis. C. tenuifolia possesses various important secondary metabolites and shows membrane stabilizing and clot lysis capacity. Further studies are required to elucidate its active principles and their biological effects.