American Society of Hirudotherapy

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Curated knowledge libraryReference collection

Compounds

20

Ghilanten

Factor Xa inhibitor with anti-metastatic activity in animal cancer models — translational dual-use compound.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Granulin (leech-derived)

Growth factor and wound-healing modulator — promotes angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Sylvestin

43-amino-acid contact-kinin pathway inhibitor from forest leech Haemadipsa sylvestris — plasma kallikrein + FXIIa dual blocker; preclinical stroke neuroprotection without bleeding tendency.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

RK22

Novel antimicrobial peptide from Hirudinaria manillensis salivary transcriptome — MIC 6.25 µg/mL against MRSA, no thrombogenic effect, in vivo efficacy in mice.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

WP-PEP (LRELEDALEQER)

Thrombin exosite-II-binding 12-residue anticoagulant peptide screened from Whitmania pigra hydrolysates (Hua 2025) via computation-guided strategy.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

WP Peptide LR

Whitmania pigra-derived anticoagulant peptide showing neuroprotection in rat MCAO ischemia-reperfusion model (Liu 2026) — thrombin modulation + fibrinolysis homeostasis.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Poeciguamerin

Antistasin-domain dual analgesic + antithrombotic serine protease inhibitor from Poecilobdella manillensis — Wang 2023 explains the painless-bleed phenotype.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Poecistasin

48-aa antistasin-type single-domain serine protease inhibitor from Poecilobdella manillensis — anticoagulant + anti-ischemic-stroke preclinical activity (Tang 2018).

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Pigrin

Selective PAR1 antagonist from non-hematophagous Whitmania pigra — Ren 2019 demonstrates antithrombotic activity in rat without prolonging bleeding time.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

WP-77

20.8 kDa thermostable anticoagulant protein from Whitmania pigra decoction — active across 20-100°C and pH 2-8 (Zhang 2022).

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

WP-30

30-residue antiplatelet peptide from Whitmania pigra selectively inhibiting thrombin-induced platelet aggregation — Liu 2016 demonstrates rat arterio-venous shunt thrombosis attenuation.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

HnSaratin

Hirudo nipponia saratin homolog — Cheng 2023 cloning + recombinant production demonstrates collagen-binding antiplatelet activity.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Hirudin Anti-Pulmonary-Fibrosis (PGC1α / Sirt3)

Preclinical demonstration that hirudin attenuates idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis fibroblast senescence via the PGC1α / Sirt3 axis — He 2024 mouse model + primary lung fibroblasts.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Leech Extract >10 kDa Anti-Pulmonary-Fibrosis (TGFβ1 / Smad3)

Molecular-weight-fractionated leech extract (>10 kDa) attenuates pulmonary fibrosis via TGFβ1 / Smad3 / PKM2 / Smad7 — Zhang 2024 bleomycin-induced mouse model.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Shuxuetong (SXT) Injection Active Peptides

Three angiogenic peptides (DSYVGDEAQSKR, YNELRVAPEEHP, IQFLPEGSPVTM) from a leech + earthworm Shuxuetong (SXT) injection — Sun 2022 hindlimb-ischemia model.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Leech / LSE Flap-Survival VEGF Induction (Rat)

Dorsal random skin-flap rat model: medicinal leech application + leech saliva extract injection both increase VEGF, neovascularisation + reduce necrosis vs control — Ünal 2025.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

WP-PEP-LRELEDALEQER

Computation-guided 12-mer anticoagulant peptide from Whitmania pigra hydrolysate targeting thrombin Exosite II — Hua 2025 in vivo + SPR validation.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

WP-77 Thermostable Anticoagulant (Whitmania pigra)

Thermostable (20–100 °C, pH 2–8) ~20.8 kDa anticoagulant protein from Whitmania pigra decoction — Zhang 2022 in vivo carrageenan thrombosis model.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

Leech Saliva Pulmonary-Fibrosis Pharmacology (Composite)

Review of leech extract + saliva pharmacological mechanisms relevant to pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic diseases — Sarli 2019 (Iranian Group).

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

RK22 Antimicrobial Peptide (MRSA-Active)

11-mer antimicrobial peptide RK22 from Hirudinaria manillensis salivary-gland transcriptome — Lu 2023 demonstrates MRSA killing + biofilm eradication.

Preclinical / mechanisticPreclinical (animal)

This website provides educational information and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Medicinal leech therapy carries clinically meaningful risks and should be performed only by qualified clinicians under institutionally approved protocols. FDA 510(k) clearance for medicinal leeches is limited to specific indications; investigational and off-label discussions are labeled accordingly. For patient-specific guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider.

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