Sociedad Americana de Hirudoterapia

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.

Preclínico / mecanísticoLast updated: 2026-05-28 · Reviewed by ASH Editorial Board
Molecular weight of WP-77 Thermostable Anticoagulant (Whitmania pigra) compared with other characterized leech-derived compoundsHementerin80 kDaHementin80 kDaHementin-Like Protein (HLP-1)80 kDaLeech Collagenase70 kDaHaemadipsa yanyuanensis Progr…70 kDaLeech Apyrase67 kDaCalin65 kDaHyaluronidase60 kDaAntithrombin III binding prot…58 kDaCollagenolytic Fibrinolysin55 kDaLeech Thrombospondin-Like Pro…50 kDaWP-77 Thermostable Anticoagul…20.8 kDa
Molecular weight (kilodaltons) of WP-77 Thermostable Anticoagulant (Whitmania pigra) (highlighted) alongside other characterized leech salivary compounds. Smaller proteins/peptides generally diffuse and act faster.

Mechanistic Evidence Box

Preclinical / mechanistic
Page type
Compound profile
Evidence type
Thermostable (20–100 °C, pH 2–8) ~20.8 kDa anticoagulant protein from Whitmania pigra decoction — Zhang 2022 in vivo carrageenan thrombosis model.
Evidence level
Preclinical (animal)
Drug vs leech
Purified natural compound
Safety domains
Bleeding

Clinical translation limit

WP-77's in vivo antithrombotic activity in mice does NOT establish clinical efficacy in humans. No FDA-approved derivative; W. pigra is a non-hematophagous TCM leech, not the FDA-cleared K040187 medicinal leech.

Molecular Profile

Category
Anticoagulant
Evidence tier
Preclinical
Molecular weight
20,800 Da
Source species
Whitmania pigra
Discovered
2022 · Zhang Y et al.
WP-77 Thermostable Anticoagulant (Whitmania pigra) molecular structure

Biological Targets

  • aPTT pathway (intrinsic); thrombin time pathway

Key Citations

  1. Zhang Y et al. (2022), J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 35032585

External Resources

    Related Anticoagulant Compounds

    Este sitio web proporciona información educativa y no constituye consejo médico, diagnóstico ni recomendaciones de tratamiento. La terapia con sanguijuelas medicinales conlleva riesgos clínicamente significativos y debe ser realizada únicamente por profesionales calificados bajo protocolos aprobados institucionalmente. La autorización 510(k) de la FDA para sanguijuelas medicinales se limita a indicaciones específicas; las discusiones sobre uso investigativo y fuera de indicación se señalan correspondientemente. Para orientación médica específica, consulte a un profesional de salud calificado.