Effects of the bluish liquid (hemolymph) from the African giant snail (Achatina marginata) on the blood coagulation time and erythropoietic volume

The bluish liquid (hemolymph) from the African giant snail designated snail bluish liquid (SBL) was investigated for its coagulatory potency in vitro using human blood from different patients and in vivo using the Wistar albino rat. Its effect on the erythrocyte volume (PCV) during the period of administration in the rat was also studied. Coagulatory potency was studied in terms of the prothrombin time (PT) by comparing the PT of the blood obtained from the patients when mixed with the SBL with that obtained when mixed with a standard coagulatory agent. The in vivo study administered the SBL at different doses to groups of matured Wistar rats for a period of time, determined the PT of their withdrawn blood and compared with that of a control group that did not receive SBL. At the same time the collected blood was analyzed for its red blood volume (PCV) using the haematocrit reader. All obtained data were statistically analyzed. Results showed a significant shorter PT with SBL when compared with the calcified tissue thromboplastin standard used in the in vitro study, and the in vivo result also showed dose dependent significant reduction in clotting time and increase in PCV after the SBL administration. However, the increase recorded in PCV showed a non significant increase at the low doses of 50 and 100 ml/kg; the higher doses that showed significant increases also exhibited some lethality. In conclusion, SBL is seen as a good first aid agent to arrest external bleeding. Its oral administration at low doses (<200 ml/kg) may boost blood formation but may also precipitate blood clot while the higher doses must be avoided because of toxicity.   Key words: Snail, coagulatory agent, thromboplastin, blood, hemophiliac.