Anti-thrombotic Potential of <i>Cynanchum radians</i> Acetone Extracts: Comparative Study with Heparin and Aspirin in a Murine Model

Background Cynanchum radians ( C. radians ) is a small herb from the Asclepiadoid genera, found in both the Old and New Worlds. The plant has potential medicinal properties, but its effects on coagulation have yet to be fully explored. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the anti-thrombotic properties of C. radians acetone extracts by comparing their effects on coagulation markers with those of standard anticoagulants, such as heparin and aspirin. Materials and Methods Forty mice were divided into four groups: control, acetonic extracts C. radians treatment group, aspirin treatment group, and heparin treatment group. Blood samples were drawn from each mouse in the four groups using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, sodium citrate, and heparin tubes. Blood tests, including complete blood count, renal function and liver enzymes tests, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), fibrinogen, and D-dimer concentrations were evaluated for each mouse. Results There were no significant variations in the levels of chloride, potassium, sodium, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase across all groups. The C. radians acetone extracts caused a significant prolongation of PT, aPTT, and INR in mice compared to the heparin- and aspirin-treated groups ( p &lt; 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in D-dimer and fibrinogen levels among the groups. Conclusion The present investigation determines that the acetone extracts of C. radians have a more significant effect on prolonging aPTT, PT, and bleeding time in mice compared to heparin and aspirin. These findings suggest that C. radians extracts possess significant anti-thrombotic properties and may serve as potential precursors for developing thrombosis treatments. However, further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, optimize dosing, and assess long-term safety and efficacy before clinical applications can be considered.