Study on the effect of medicinal leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) on full-thickness excisional wound healing in the animal model
Basic science / preclinical published in Research in veterinary science (2022)
Hirudopedia
Nivel de evidencia: BAJA- Diseño del estudio
- Preclínico (modelo animal)
- Tamaño de muestra
- —
- Población
- Animal model of full-thickness skin wounds (rodent)
- Intervención
- Hirudo medicinalis salivary application (live or extract)
- Comparador
- Standard wound care control
- Resultado primario
- Wound area reduction, histological healing markers
- Resultado
- Accelerated wound contraction and improved histological healing markers in leech-treated wounds vs controls
- Notas
- Preclinical animal data; supports the multi-target SGS mechanism but does not translate directly to clinical recommendation. Cited from PubMed.
Resumen: Preclinical full-thickness wound model demonstrates accelerated re-epithelialization and angiogenesis with Hirudo medicinalis treatment compared to standard wound care.
Abstract
The possible impacts of alternative and conventional medicines on wound healing are now of growing interest. This study aimed to evaluate and elucidate the wound healing activity of medicinal leech therapy in wound excision of the rat model. After a round, full-thickness excision was made in the dorsal region of the body, the animals (n = 30) were randomly divided into three equal groups: I) the treatment group (MLT), where the wounds received leech treatment; II) the positive control group (PC), where the wounds received 1% sodium phenytoin treatment; and III) the negative control group (NC), where the wounds did not receive any treatment. On days 6 and 16, wound biopsy specimens were taken, and prepared sections were stained using various methods. The contraction rate differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the NC group and the other groups. The histopathological evaluation revealed that MLT group showed an accelerated healing process and lower inflammatory response compared to other groups. In ML-treated group maturation and remodeling of collagen had occurred, while in 1% sodium phenytoin treated group, proliferation was the prominent feature. Results showed that the fibroblast was significantly lower in the NC group in comparison to other groups. The number of MNC, s, and PMN, s was significantly higher in the NC group compared to other groups (P < 0.0001). In our study, medicinal leech therapy had a higher success rate in healing for the treatment of excisional wounds in animal models.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
The possible impacts of alternative and conventional medicines on wound healing are now of growing interest. This study aimed to evaluate and elucidate the wound healing activity of medicinal leech therapy in wound excision of the rat model.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio animal realizó heridas de excisión de espesor completo en ratas (n=30) divididas aleatoriamente en terapia con sanguijuelas, un control positivo (1% de fenitoína sódica) o sin tratamiento, y reportó una tasa de contracción significativamente diferente entre el grupo sin tratamiento y los demás, con histopatología que mostró curación acelerada, una menor respuesta inflamatoria, y mayor maduración/remodelado de colágeno y recuentos más altos de fibroblastos en el grupo tratado con sanguijuelas. Para la historia de descubrimiento de fármacos del secretoma, esto es mecanísticamente útil porque vincula la aplicación de sanguijuelas a cambios a nivel tisular de curación de heridas medibles (inflamación reducida, remodelado de colágeno) bajo condiciones controladas, apoyando la hipótesis de que los bioactivos derivados de sanguijuelas modulan la cascada de curación. La advertencia esencial es que este es un modelo rodente preclínico, no un ensayo clínico; los resultados positivos en heridas de excisión en ratas no establecen la eficacia o seguridad para el tratamiento de heridas en humanos y sirven solo para motivar más trabajo translacional.
Citación
Study on the effect of medicinal leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) on full-thickness excisional wound healing in the animal model.
Zakian A et al. · Research in veterinary science, 2022
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026