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A comparative study on the potency of papaya (Carica papaya) and Tawa-Tawa (Euphorbia hirta) leaf extract against thrombocytopenia
Sherwin Ian H. Asuncion*
Dann Ezra H. Gamila
Kathlyn Jime C. Mora
Kathly C. Marquez
Marielli M. Sison
Marielle Kane Osias
Medical Laboratory Science Department, School of Health Science Professions, St. Dominic College of Asia, Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines
Abstract
Platelets are fragments of cells circulating in the blood stream and even though they are just cell fragments, they have many structures that stops bleeding. They stick together with each other and form a plug to seal the opening in the blood vessels. Thrombocytopenia is a condition wherein a person has a low platelet count and having a low platelet count means that the persons cut will not clot in time and have a risk of prolonged bleeding. It is caused by a lot of diseases, and the best-known cause is dengue. Thrombocytopenia is cured by intaking drugs that can improve the platelet production in the bone marrow. Alternatives such as Tawa-tawa (Euphirbia hirta) and papaya (Carica papaya) are commonly used in the Philippines to increase the production of platelets. Decoction is method to be used to extract water soluble substances that the tawa-tawa and papaya have; 2 mL, 5 mL and 10 mL solutions of the leaf extracts was being used in the rats that have thrombocytopenia induced by heparin and observed within 7-14 days. Based on the results, papaya is much more potent than tawa-tawa in increasing the platelet count of rats.
Keywords: Platelets; Thrombocytopenia; Tawa-tawa; papaya.
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