ISSN (Online) : 2277-4572
Author(s): Blessing M. Onyegeme-Okerenta, Veronica I. Okochi, Shalom Nwodo Chinedu*
Penicillin and related b-lactam antibiotics inhibit platelet aggregation and can cause bleeding diathesis; their potential antithrombotic and anticoagulation effects are being investigated. An in vitro study was carried out to determine the effect of culture extract of Penicillium chrysogenum (PCL501) on thrombin and whole blood clotting time. Visual and spectrophotometric measurements showed that the extract significantly (P < 0.05) lengthened thrombin and blood clotting time, and inhibited blood clot formation. Delay in thrombin and blood clotting time was proportionate to the extract concentration; a threshold level was reached when it totally inhibited clot formation. The reference drug, commercial benzyl penicillin, exhibited a similar inhibitory pattern. The culture extract and reference drug, at 6.0 and 5.0 mg/ml concentration respectively, prevented clot formation initiation by thrombin. No blood clot was observed at 30.0 and 20.0 mg/ml concentration respectively of the extract and reference drug. This study demonstrates that the culture extract of P. chrysogenum (PCL501) has in vitro antithrombotic and anticoagulant properties. It also suggests that inhibition of thrombin activity could be the major mechanism through which b-lactam antibiotics impair platelet functions and impede blood clotting process. The strain of P. chrysogenum can be exploited for low-cost antithrombotic and anticoagulation therapy
