Pharmacological activities and mechanisms of hirudin and its derivatives — a review
Comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021)
Abstract
Hirudin, an acidic polypeptide secreted by the salivary glands of Hirudo medicinalis (also known as "Shuizhi" in traditional Chinese medicine), is the strongest natural specific inhibitor of thrombin found so far. Hirudin has been demonstrated to possess potent anti-thrombotic effect in previous studies. Recently, increasing researches have focused on the anti-thrombotic activity of the derivatives of hirudin, mainly because these derivatives have stronger antithrombotic activity and lower bleeding risk. Additionally, various bioactivities of hirudin have been reported as well, including wound repair effect, anti-fibrosis effect, effect on diabetic complications, anti-tumor effect, anti-hyperuricemia effect, effect on cerebral hemorrhage, and others. Therefore, by collecting and summarizing publications from the recent two decades, the pharmacological activities, pharmacokinetics, novel preparations and derivatives, as well as toxicity of hirudin were systematically reviewed in this paper. In addition, the clinical application, the underlying mechanisms of pharmacological effects, the dose-effect relationship, and the development potential in new drug research of hirudin were discussed on the purpose of providing new ideas for application of hirudin in treating related diseases.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Comprehensive review of natural hirudin, recombinant variants, and bivalirudin/lepirudin derivatives — covers mechanism, pharmacokinetics, clinical applications, and safety across thrombotic indications.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Esta revisión resume sistemáticamente las actividades farmacológicas, la farmacocinética, las nuevas preparaciones, los derivados y la toxicidad de la hirudina, el polipéptido ácido de las glándulas salivales de Hirudo medicinalis y el inhibidor específico natural más potente conocido de la trombina. Abarca los efectos antitrombóticos, además de bioactividades adicionales que incluyen la reparación de heridas, la antifibrosis, efectos sobre complicaciones diabéticas, actividad antitumoral, antihiperuricemia y efectos sobre la hemorragia cerebral, basándose en publicaciones de las últimas dos décadas. Esto es altamente relevante para el dominio central de la ASH, ya que proporciona una visión amplia de la hirudina — el componente bioactivo central del secretoma de la sanguijuela. ADVERTENCIA: Se trata de un artículo de revisión que sintetiza literatura previa, en lugar de investigación original; no presenta datos primarios nuevos, y las afirmaciones sobre bioactividades específicas dependen de la calidad de los estudios subyacentes, que no se evalúan individualmente aquí.
Citación
Pharmacological activities and mechanisms of hirudin and its derivatives — a review.
Junren C et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology, 2021
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026