Therapeutic Potentials of Medicinal Leech in Chinese Medicine
Wu S, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Zhang Z (2024) · The American Journal of Chinese Medicine · n=0
Studienprofil
- Design
- narrative review of medicinal-leech use in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with focus on Whitmania pigra (non-hematophagous), Hirudo nipponia, and Hirudinaria manillensis; Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, China
- Stichprobengröße (n)
- —
- Intervention
- Synthesis of Chinese pharmacopeia leech species used orally and topically in TCM formulations for anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, and antitumor indications; bioactive constituent profile
- Komparator
- Not applicable — narrative review
- Primärer Endpunkt
- Synthesis of TCM evidence base and bioactive-constituent characterization of Chinese medicinal-leech species
- Primäres Ergebnis
- Authors synthesize TCM use of Whitmania pigra, Hirudo nipponia, and Hirudinaria manillensis; categorize bioactive constituents into coagulation-system-targeting (hirudin, heparin, histamine) and protease-inhibitor (Decorsin, Hementin) groups; identify hirudin as the most potent salivary-gland thrombin inhibitor; note expanded TCM applications in anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, and antitumor contexts
- Follow-up-Dauer
- Not applicable — review
- PMID
- 38879745
Wichtigste Ergebnisse
- Chinese Pharmacopeia recognizes Whitmania pigra (non-hematophagous), Hirudo nipponia, and Hirudinaria manillensis as medicinal leeches
- Bioactives stratified into coagulation-system targets (hirudin family, heparin, histamine) and protease-inhibitor groups (Decorsin, Hementin)
- Hirudin remains the most potent salivary-gland thrombin inhibitor
- TCM applications cited in anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, and antitumor contexts
- Cross-regulatory species context valuable for global hirudotherapy literature
Einschränkungen
- Narrative review without systematic search or quality grading
- TCM clinical evidence reviewed is mostly from regional Chinese-language sources
- Many cited mechanisms are preclinical or in-vitro
- Direct translation to US K040187 clinical practice not appropriate
- Antitumor and broad therapeutic claims insufficiently supported by RCT-level evidence
Klinische Implikationen
Wu 2024 serves as a regulatory and species-comparative reference for ASH's understanding of how non-Hirudo-medicinalis species (especially Whitmania pigra and Hirudinaria manillensis) are used in Chinese medicine. For US clinicians under K040187, the review does not change practice but provides important historical and pharmacognosy context. The review usefully complements ASH's existing entries on H. nipponia (Lu 2018), Whitmania pigra hirudins (Müller 2022), and the broader hirudin-family literature.
Verwandte Studien
Effectiveness of leech therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial
Michalsen A, Klotz S, Lüdtke R, Moebus S, Spahn G, Dobos GJ (2003)
Leech therapy for symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis: results and implications of a pilot study
Andereya S, Stanzel S, Maus U, Mueller-Rath R, Mumme T, Miltner O (2006)
Comparison of modern leech therapy with intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections for symptomatic relief of knee osteoarthritis
Andereya S, Stanzel S, Maus U, Mueller-Rath R, Mumme T, Miltner O, Andereya S (2008)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of medical leech therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee
Lauche R, Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G (2014)