Leech Acetylcholine
Cholinergic vasodilator contributing to feeding-site vascular dilation.
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- Cholinergic vasodilator contributing to feeding-site vascular dilation.
- Evidence level
- Mechanistic discussion
- Drug vs leech
- Leech-derived crude extract
Clinical translation limit
Acetylcholine released by leeches at the feeding site is a normal endogenous neurotransmitter and not a distinct therapeutic product. The vasodilatory role is mechanistic only and does NOT establish clinical efficacy of leech therapy for vascular indications.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Vasodilator
- Evidence tier
- Preclinical
- Molecular weight
- 146 Da
- Source species
- Hirudo medicinalis (synthesized)
- PubChem CID
- 187
Biological Targets
- → muscarinic acetylcholine receptors
External Resources
Related Vasodilator Compounds
Leech Nitric Oxide Synthase Modulator
Modulates host NOS activity at bite site — contributes to vasodilation phase of feeding.
Leech Histamine-like Vasodilator
Histamine-receptor-acting compound — contributes to local vasodilation at feeding site.
Leech Bradykinin Modulator
Salivary factor reported to modulate the bradykinin / kinin-kallikrein vasoactive cascade.
Shuxuetong (SXT) Injection Active Peptides
Three angiogenic peptides (DSYVGDEAQSKR, YNELRVAPEEHP, IQFLPEGSPVTM) from a leech + earthworm Shuxuetong (SXT) injection — Sun 2022 hindlimb-ischemia model.