Time to Change Theory; Medical Leech from a Molecular Medicine Perspective: Leech Salivary Proteins Playing a Potential Role in Medicine
Review published in Adv Pharm Bull (2020)
Abstract
Followed by developing modern medicine, leeches did not have extensive use as before; however, in the late 19th century, they were still used in most countries all over the world. Thus far, leeches were utilized in treating various diseases like skin disorders, arthritis, and cancer. In Egypt, using leeches for treatment dates back to early 1500 BC. A medical leech's salivary glands involve over 100 bioactive proteins and the salivary gland secretion contains bacteriostatic, analgesic, and anticoagulation influences; with resolving activity, it causes microcirculation disorders elimination, restoring the hurt vascular permeability of organs and tissues, removing hypoxia, decreasing blood pressure and detoxifying the organism by antioxidant paths. The current work reviews the innovative treatment with medical leech, especially proteins in leech saliva extraction (LSE) with high potential in medicine. The virtue of salivary gland secretions which are proteinaceous enzymes, leech acts on various diseases such as venous congestion in reconstructive and plastic surgery, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases caused by blood coagulation disorders, pain management, priapism, macroglossia, cancer complications, wounds and many other. To confirm the potential therapeutic impacts of leech treatment, more studies are required in more extensive areas with more exact methodologies.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Review of medical-leech salivary-gland proteins (over 100 bioactives) including anticoagulants, analgesics, bacteriostatics, and microcirculation modulators. Maps clinical applications across venous congestion, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, pain, priapism, and macroglossia.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Esta revisión explora la terapia medicinal con sanguijuelas y las proteínas salivales de sanguijuela desde una perspectiva de medicina molecular, señalando que las glándulas salivales de las sanguijuelas médicas contienen más de 100 proteínas bioactivas con actividades bacteriostáticas, analgésicas, anticoagulantes, resolutivas, restauradoras de la microcirculación, antihipóxicas y antioxidantes. Se discuten aplicaciones que incluyen congestión venosa en cirugía reconstructiva/plástica, osteoartritis, enfermedad cardiovascular, manejo del dolor, priapismo, macroglosia, complicaciones oncológicas y cicatrización de heridas, remontando el uso medicinal de las sanguijuelas al Egipto circa 1500 a. C. Para el dominio de ASH, esto es directamente relevante: se trata de una revisión dedicada a las proteínas salivales de la sanguijuela y su potencial terapéutico, en consonancia con el foco central de ASH. Advertencia: al ser una revisión, no presenta nuevos datos experimentales y los autores afirman explícitamente que se necesitan estudios más rigurosos y extensos para confirmar los efectos terapéuticos; la evidencia molecular o clínica específica no se detalla en el resumen.
Citación
Time to Change Theory; Medical Leech from a Molecular Medicine Perspective: Leech Salivary Proteins Playing a Potential Role in Medicine.
Shakouri A et al. · Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin, 2020
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026