Thrombolytic diseases such as myocardial, cerebral infarctions are serious consequences of the thrombus formed in blood vessels which are the most common causes of death worldwide. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), Streptokinase (SK), Urokinase (UK), are the thrombolytic agents used to dissolve the already formed clots in the blood vessels. These chemical agents used for thrombolytic activity causes side effects like allergic reactions, bleeding, hypotension, low-grade fever, rash, hypersensitivity etc. Alternative to chemical agents is natural agents which will prevent these side effects. In view of this, the current study is aimed to identify the thrombolytic activity of the Algae species Oscillatoria (cyanobacteria). Bioactive active compounds were extracted from the algae using methanol as solvent. The methanolic extract is tested for its thrombolytic activity by RBC lysis method. The in-vitro thrombolytic activity study revealed that the methanolic extract of Oscillatoria showed significant clot lysis when compared with the positive control (streptokinase) and negative control (ethanol). The mean clot lysis % difference was significant. From the in-vitro study, we demonstrate that the algae extract has very good clot lysis activity and it could be considered as potential sources of natural thrombolytic agents.
Gokulnath S.1, Kannikaparameswari N.2, Nivedhitha Vinod3, Pradeepa D.4* (Fri,) studied this question.