IN VITRO ANTICOAGULANT ACTIVITY OF SOLANUM NIGRUM LINN. FRUIT EXTRACT EVALUATED BY PLASMA RECALCIFICATION TIME ASSAY

Cardiovascular disorders linked to abnormal thrombus formation remain a major global health concern, and synthetic anticoagulants such as Warfarin, though effective, carry risks of haemorrhage and a narrow therapeutic index. This study evaluated the in vitro anticoagulant activity of the ethanolic fruit extract of Solanum nigrum Linn. using the plasma recalcification time assay. Soxhlet extraction yielded 8.4% w/w extract, and preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins and phenolics. Thin layer chromatography (Rf 0.48) closely matched the quercetin standard (Rf 0.46). The plasma recalcification time assay showed dose-dependent prolongation of clotting time from 504 to 1347 seconds across 0.1–0.4 mg/mL, exceeding the standard drug Warfarin sodium (327 seconds) at every concentration tested. In silico toxicity prediction using ProTox-3.0 indicated a considerably lower toxicity burden for quercetin (Class 3, LD50 = 159 mg/kg) than for Warfarin sodium (Class 1, LD50 = 2 mg/kg). These findings identify Solanum nigrum fruit extract as a promising, low-toxicity natural anticoagulant candidate warranting further in vivo validation.