American Society of Hirudotherapy

A novel selective inhibitor to thrombin-induced platelet aggregation purified from the leech Whitmania pigra

Research article published in Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2016)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Preclinical (animal)Genomics & ProteomicsSalivary PharmacologyLiu X et al. · Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2016

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: The dried whole body of the leech Whitmania pigra, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat thrombus diseases for thousands of years. However, its bioactive constituents were reported rarely. The aim of our study was to investigate antithrombotic components of it. METHODS: The antithrombotic peptide was purified using a combination of anion-exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and reverse-phase HPLC. the sequence of the peptide was determined using MALDI-TOF-MS-MS. Anti-platelet aggregation activity in vitro was evaluated using a turbidimetric method, and antithrombotic effect in vivo was assessed in an arterio-venous shunt thrombosis model in rats. RESULTS: A novel antithrombotic peptide named WP-30, with the sequence VISRTQSNVQAAWGQVGGHAADYSAVAIER, was isolated from the dried whole body of the leech W. pigra. WP-30 selectively inhibited thrombin-induced anti-platelet aggregation in vitro, and potently attenuated thrombus formation in rats in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, we found a novel peptide from leech bodies, and this peptide showed antiplatelet aggregation and antithrombotic effects.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Indexed MeSH termsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsChromatography, High Pressure LiquidFibrinolytic AgentsLeechesMedicine, Chinese TraditionalMolecular Sequence DataPeptidesPlatelet AggregationRatsRats, Sprague-DawleySpectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Summary

The dried whole body of the leech Whitmania pigra, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat thrombus diseases for thousands of years.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This study isolated and characterized a novel antithrombotic peptide, WP-30 (sequence VISRTQSNVQAAWGQVGGHAADYSAVAIER), from the dried whole body of the leech Whitmania pigra, a traditional Chinese medicine used for thrombotic diseases. Purified via anion-exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration, and reverse-phase HPLC, the peptide selectively inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in vitro and attenuated thrombus formation in a rat arterio-venous shunt model. This is directly relevant to ASH's domain, identifying a bioactive antithrombotic constituent from a leech species. CAVEAT: Findings are preclinical, limited to in-vitro antiplatelet assays and an in-vivo rat thrombosis model; no human data, no hirudotherapy application, and no comparison to other leech species are presented in the abstract.

Citation

A novel selective inhibitor to thrombin-induced platelet aggregation purified from the leech Whitmania pigra.

Liu X et al. · Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2016

DOI

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