An overview of the role of leech in wound healing, cancer and arthritis

Document Type : scientific research article

Authors

1 Corresponding Author, Associate Prof., Dept. of Seafood Processing, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student of Seafood Processing, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

Since ancient times, leech therapy has been one of the best parasurgical treatments used all over the world. Leech therapy was a good treatment for blood purification, which eliminated many blood-borne diseases. It was previously thought that the benefits of leech therapy came from the amount of blood that was lost, but later studies have shown that more than the blood loss, it is the leech's saliva secretions, which contain an amazing combination of medicinal substances that are found in many medical and surgical conditions have therapeutic uses. Leech extract was discovered in the late 19th century and since then many medicinal products have been developed using leech extract for various diseases, but some of them have been abandoned. Leech extract is a valuable source of bioactive substances that can be used to treat mild and life-threatening medical disorders. The purpose of this review is to discuss the development of leech extract as a therapeutic and medicinal agent regarding the pain relief properties of arthritis, anticancer properties and the role of its active proteins in the wound healing process

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1.Zewayee, F. A., & Ali, L. A. (2024). The first record of Dina prokletijaca (Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae) from Bekhal stream, Erbil, Iraq. Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity, 8(1), 54-64.‏
2.Alaama, M., Kucuk, O., Bilir, B., Merzouk, A., Ghawi, A. M., Yerer, M. B., & Helaluddin, A. B. M. (2024). Development of Leech extract as a therapeutic agent: A chronological review. Pharmacological Research-Modern Chinese Medicine, 10, 100355.‏
3.Koh, C. Y., & Kini, R. M. (2008). Anticoagulants from hematophagous animals. Exp. Rev. Hematol. 1, 135‑9.
4.Whitaker, I. S., Izadi, D., Oliver, D. W., Monteath, G., & Butler, P. E. (2004). Hirudo medicinalis and the plastic surgeon. British journal of plastic surgery, 57(4), 348-353.
5.Abdualkader, A. M., Ghawi, A. M., Alaama, M., Awang, M., & Merzouk, A. (2013). Leech therapeutic applications. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 75(2), 127.‏
6.Sun, H. (2007). From leeching to anaphrodisiacs: Treatments of epilepsy in the nineteenth century. University of Toronto Medical Journal, 84(2), 107-110.‏
7.Markwardt, F. (1970). [69] Hirudin as an inhibitor of thrombin. In Methods in enzymology (Vol. 19, pp. 924-932). Academic Press.‏
8.Rados, C. (2004). Beyond bloodletting: FDA gives leeches a medical makeover. FDA consumer, 38(5), 9-9.‏
9.Pourrahimi, M., Abdi, M., & Ghods, R. (2020). Complications of leech therapy. Avicenna Journal of phytomedicine, 10(3), 222.‏
10.Alaama, M., AlNajjar, M., Abdualkader, A., Mohammad, A., & Merzouk, A. (2011). Isolation and analytical characterization of local Malaysian leech saliva. IIUM Engineering Journal, 12(4), 51-59.
11.Amani, L., Motamed, N., Ardakani, M. M., Shasaltaneh, M. D., Malek, M., Shamsa, F., & Amin, M. (2021). Semi-solid product of medicinal leech enhances wound healing in rats. Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products, 16(4),‏ e113910. https://doi.org/10.5812/jjnpp.113910.
12.Hildebrandt, J. P., & Lemke, S. (2011). Small bite, large impact-saliva and salivary molecules in the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Naturwissenschaften, 98(12), 995-1008.‏
13.Baskova, I. P., & Nikonov, G. I. (1985). Destabilase: An enzyme of medicinal leech salivary gland secretion hydrolyzes the isopeptide bonds in stabilized fibrin. Biokhimiia (Moscow, Russia), 50(3), 424-431.‏
14.Fink, E., Rehm, H., Gippner, C., Bode, W., Eulitz, M., Machleidt, W., & Fritz, H. (1986). The primary structure of bdellin B-3 from the leech Hirudo medicinalis. Bdellin B-3 is a compact proteinase inhibitor of a “non-classical” Kazal type, It is present in the leech in a high molecular mass form.‏ Biological Chemistry Hoppe Seyler, 367(12), 1235-1242.
15.Munro, R., Jones, C. P., & Sawyer, R. T. (1991). Calin–a platelet adhesion inhibitor from the saliva of the medicinal leech. Blood coagulation & fibrinolysis, 2(1), 179-184.‏
16.Moser, M., Auerswald, E., Mentele, R., Eckerskorn, C., Fritz, H., & Fink, E. (1998). Bdellastasin, a serine protease inhibitor of the antistasin family from the medical leech (Hirudo medicinalis) primary structure, expression in yeast, and characterisation of native and recombinant inhibitor. European journal of biochemistry, 253(1), 212-220.‏
17.Claude, A. (1937). Spreading properties of leech extracts and the formation of lymph. The Journal of experimental medicine, 66(3), 353.‏
18.Baskova, I. P., Ferner, Z., Balkina, A. S., Kozin, S. A., Kharitonova, O. V., Zavalova, L. L., & Zgoda, V. G. (2008). Steroids, histamine, and serotonin in the medicinal leech salivary gland secretion. Biochemistry (Moscow) Supplement Series B: Biomedical Chemistry, 2, 215-225.‏
19.Scacheri, E., Nitti, G., Valsasina, B., Orsini, G., Visco, C., Ferrera, M., & Sarmientos, P. (1993). Novel hirudin variants from the leech Hirudinaria manillensis: amino acid sequence, cDNA cloning and genomic organization. European journal of biochemistry, 214(1), 295-304.‏
20.Chopin, V., Salzet, M., Baert, J. L., Vandenbulcke, F., Sautiere, P. E., Kerckaert, J. P., & Malecha, J. (2000). Therostasin, a novel clotting factor Xa inhibitor from the rhynchobdellid leech, Theromyzon tessulatum. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275(42), 32701-32707.‏
21.Finney, S., Seale, L., Sawyer, R. T., & Wallis, R. B. (1997). Tridegin, a new peptidic inhibitor of factor XIIIa, from the blood-sucking leech Haementeria ghilianii. Biochemical Journal, 324(3), 797-805.‏
22.Tasiemski, A., Vandenbulcke, F., Mitta, G., Lemoine, J., Lefebvre, C., Sautiere, P. E., & Salzet, M. (2004). Molecular characterization of two novel antibacterial peptides inducible upon bacterial challenge in an annelid, the leech Theromyzon tessulatum. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279(30), 30973-30982.‏
23.Connolly, T. M., Jacobs, J. W., & Condra, C. (1992). An inhibitor of collagen-stimulated platelet activation from the salivary glands of the Haementeria officinalis leech. I. Identification, isolation, and characterization. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 267(10), 6893-6898.‏
24.Faria, F., Kelen, E. M. A., Sampaio, C. A., Bon, C., Duval, N., & Chudzinski-Tavassi, A. M. (1999). A new factor Xa inhibitor (lefaxin) from the Haementeria depressa leech. Thrombosis and haemostasis, 82(11), 1469-1473.‏
25.Tuszynski, G. P., Gasic, T. B., & Gasic, G. J. (1987). Isolation and characterization of antistasin. An inhibitor of metastasis and coagulation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 262(20), 9718-9723.‏
26.Seymour, J. L., Henzel, W. J., Nevins, B. E. T. A. L., Stults, J. T., & Lazarus, R. A. (1990). Decorsin. A potent glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonist and platelet aggregation inhibitor from the leech Macrobdella decora. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 265(17), 10143-10147.‏
27.Hunter, D. J., & Eyles, J. (Eds.). (2022). Osteoarthritis Health Professional Training Manual. Academic Press.‏
28.Kumar, V. D., Kumar, C. P., Kumar, S. A., & Singh, O. P. (2012). A critical review on historical aspects of Jalaukavacharan (Hirudotherapy).‏ International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy, 3(1), 47-49.
29.Shakouri, A., & Wollina, U. (2021). Time to change theory; medical leech from a molecular medicine perspective leech salivary proteins playing a potential role in medicine. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin, 11(2), 261-266.
30.Houschyar, K. S., Momeni, A., Maan, Z. N., Pyles, M. N., Jew, O. S., Strathe, M., & Michalsen, A. (2015). Medical leech therapy in plastic reconstructive surgery. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946), 165(19-20), 419-425.‏
31.Zaidi, S. M., Jameel, S. S., Zaman, F., Jilani, S., Sultana, A., & Khan, S. A. (2011). A systematic overview of the medicinal importance of sanguivorous leeches. Altern med rev, 16(1), 59-65.‏
32.Brankamp, R. G., Manley, G. G., Biankenship, D. T., Bowlin, T. L., & Cardin, A. D. (1991). Studies on the anticoagulant, antimetastatic and heparin-binding properties of ghilanten-related inhibitors. Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis, 2(1), 161-166.‏
33.Siegel, R., DeSantis, C., Virgo, K., Stein, K., Mariotto, A., Smith, T., & Ward, E. (2012). Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2012. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 62(4), 220-241.‏
34.Mgbemena, C. C., Omalu, I. C., Olayemi, I. K., Egwim, E. C., Ossai, P., & Eke, S. S. (2020). Anticancer effect of saliva extract of the Nigerian leech (Aliolimnatis michaelseni).‏ NSUK Journal of Science & Technology, 7(1), 71-75.
35.Merzouk, A., Ghawi, A. M., Abdualkader, A., Abdullahi, A. D., & Alaama, M. (2012). Anticancer effects of medical Malaysian leech saliva extract (LSE). Pharm Anal Acta S, 15, 2-6.‏
36.Gasic, G. J., Viner, E. D., Budzynski, A. Z., & Gasic, G. P. (1983). Inhibition of lung tumor colonization by leech salivary gland extracts from Haementeria ghilianii. Cancer research, 43(4), 1633-1636.‏
37.Nair, V., Das, K. P., & Saha, N. (2017). Hirudotherapy: Will the glorious past return? Journal of Medicine and Health Research, 2(3), 97-105.‏
38.Kalender, M. E., Comez, G., Sevinc, A., Dirier, A., & Camci, C. (2010). Leech therapy for symptomatic relief of cancer pain. Pain medicine, 11(3), 443-445.‏
39.Li, F. G., Shi, X. Y., Yang, L., Lu, X., Qi, Y., Li, P., & Gao, W. (2024). Quantitative proteomics based bioactive proteins discovery and quality control of medicinal leeches. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 319, 117117.‏
40.Nobili, S., Lippi, D., Witort, E., Donnini, M., Bausi, L., Mini, E., & Capaccioli, S. (2009). Natural compounds for cancer treatment and prevention. Pharmacological research, 59(6), 365-378.‏
41.Nie, M. (2024). The role of inflammatory cells in sarcoidosis and asthma.‏ 98 p.
42.Oliver, T. I., & Mutluoglu, M. (2019). Diabetic foot ulcer. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing StatPearls Publishing LLC.‏
43.Duque, A. P. D. N., Pinto, N. D. C. C., Mendes, R. D. F., da Silva, J. M., Aragão, D. M. D. O., Castañon, M. C. M. N., & Scio, E. (2016). In vivo wound healing activity of gels containing Cecropia pachystachya leaves. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 68(1), 128-138.‏
44.Zhang, Y., Lu, Y. B., Zhu, W. J., Gong, X. X., Qian, R., Lu, Y. J., & Cheng, F. F. (2024). Leech extract alleviates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 324, 117737.‏
45.Ünal, K., Erol, M.E., Ayhan, H. (2023). Literature review on the effectiveness of medicinal leech therapy in the wound healing. Ankara Medical Journal, 1, 151-164.
Journal of Utilization and Cultivation of Aquatics
Volume 14, Issue 3
September 2025
Pages 183-194

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics