Efficacy of lycopene from solanum Lycopersicum (TOMATO) as anticoagulant for prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, [author]: Ancheta, Rajiv Jan M., Chua, Shannen Leigh J., De Leon, Moses Kelsey, Dilag, Jens Holly M., Estalani, Moira Erish V., Jasmin, Johnna Grace S., Macatangay, Mary Christlyn Joy A., Marasigan, Gillian S., Ong, David Raphael S.,Peralta, Ivan Moiz A.,Ramones, Haywee Angelie Ericka C.

Includes Appendix

ABSTRACT:
Clinicians frequency order coagulation tests, such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastic time ( aPTT), to assess blood clotting function in patients. Sodium citrate is widely used in medicine as an in-vitro anticoagulant, often utilized in coagulation studies. However, the DFA had highlighted concerns regarding supply chain problems related to a shortage of blood collection tubes, particularly sodium citrate tubes. This situation poses challenges for healthcare and laboratory workers, with some laboratories in the Philippines lacking readily available sodium citrate tubes. Moreover, Lycopene is an organic pigment classified as a carotenoid and is responsible for the red coloration of various fruits and vegetables. As reported by Hsiao et al. (2005), lycopene possesses anticoagulant properties. Among all processed product and raw varieties, tomatoes have the highest lycopene content, which could be used as a potential anticoagulant. To address the unavailability of these tubes, the researchers assessed the efficacy of commercially prepared lycopene extracted from tomatoes as another anticoagulation option for coagulation test such as PT and aPTT. Using a true experimental research method, this study involves three (3) phases: First, the authentication of the commercially prepared lycopene powder through physical and chemical tests. Second was the preparation of different lycopene powder concentrations (8 umol/L, 10 umol/ L, and 12 umol/L). third were the coagulation tests of PT and aPTT using lycopene as an anticoagulant. In the initial phase of the experiment, the researchers confirmed the purity and legitimacy of the commercially prepared lycopene, for the following phase, it was observed that 10 umol/L is the ideal concentration for lycopene because it showed maximum antiplatelet activity. However, in the third phase, a significant portion of the PT and aPTT results deviated from the reference range, rendering the findings unreliable. Results of the Yumizen G800 Hemostasis Analyzer predominantly yielded invalid PT and aPTT results, primarily attributable to procedural non-measurement errors. This study recommends broadening the scope of research to encompass other lycopene-rich fruits such as guava and winter melon and explore alternative coagulation machines, thereby providing insights into alternative sources with comparable or heightened anticoagulant effects.
Keywords: sodium citrate, lycopene, solanum lycopersicum, alternative anticoagulant, coagulation test.

School of Medical Technology