Metabolomics-based study reveals the effect of lead (Pb) in the culture environment on Whitmania pigra
Research article published in Scientific reports (2020)
Abstract
Whitmania pigra, called Mahuang (MH) in Chinese, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for many years and is susceptible to Pb exposure in aquaculture environments. To understand the impact of Pb in the culture environment on MHs, we carried out a 50-day culture of MHs in environments with different levels of Pb pollution. Then, tissue samples of MHs reared in the different Pb-polluted environments were collected and analysed by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The results showed that the Pb residue in MHs increased with increasing Pb in the culture environment. There was no significant difference in MH Pb content (P < 0.05) between the low-Pb residue group (PbL) and the blank control group (BC), and those of the middle-Pb residue group (PbM) and the high-Pb residue group (PbH) were significantly different from that of the BC group. Metabolomics results showed significant changes in 24 metabolites in the PbL, PbM and PbH groups, some of which were dose-dependent. These metabolites were mainly lipids, nucleotides, and dipeptides, which are involved in metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism. Overall, the results proved that metabolomics can be an effective tool to understand the effects of Pb on the metabolic responses of MHs.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Whitmania pigra, called Mahuang (MH) in Chinese, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for many years and is susceptible to Pb exposure in aquaculture environments.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio examinó cómo la acumulación de plomo (Pb) en entornos de acuicultura afecta el perfil metabólico de la sanguijuela Whitmania pigra (utilizada en la medicina tradicional china) durante un período de cultivo de 50 días, demostrando una acumulación de residuos de Pb dependiente de la dosis y alteraciones significativas en 24 metabolitos que involucran el metabolismo de glicerofosfolípidos, esfingolípidos y nucleótidos. La sanguijuela Whitmania pigra es la única conexión con el dominio de ASH; el resumen la presenta como una medicina tradicional china pero no discute la hirudoterapia, las aplicaciones clínicas ni el secretoma de la sanguijuela. El estudio se limita al análisis químico/metabolómico de tejidos de sanguijuelas expuestas a Pb y no aborda resultados terapéuticos ni uso clínico.
Citación
Metabolomics-based study reveals the effect of lead (Pb) in the culture environment on Whitmania pigra
Luo X et al. · Scientific reports, 2020
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026