Traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and toxicology of Chinese medicinal leech (Shuizhi): A comprehensive review
Review published in J Ethnopharmacol (2025)
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Chinese medicinal leech (Shuizhi in Chinese) has been widely used in traditional Asian medicine, particularly in China, to treat blood stasis-related disorders, including hematological diseases, gynecological diseases, trauma, arthritis, and edema. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review systematically evaluates leech's traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and toxicology, aiming to provide insights for its further development and utilization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The relevant information of leech was obtained from several databases. Moreover, the medical books, PhD and MSc dissertations in Chinese were also used to perform this work. RESULTS: Traditional uses of leech have lasted for millennia in China. Within the past decades, approximately 100 chemical constituents, including proteins, peptides, amino acid, lipids, sterols, fatty acid esters, and trace elements, have been identified from leech. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed numerous bioactivities of leech, such as anticoagulant activity, antithrombotic activity, antiatherosclerotic activity, anti-fibrotic activity, anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, toxicity studies confirm its safety. CONCLUSION: Based on the summary of the research work of leech, we systematically show the traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and toxicology studies. Leech is a renowned traditional ethnic medicine with numerous pharmacological activities attributed to its bioactive components, and are being actively developed for uses other than traditional uses. Modern pharmacological research primarily focuses on its cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system effect. Therefore, it is important to further explore its pharmacological activities and fill the research gaps related to other traditional uses and chemical constituents. In addition, its safety studies should be expanded to prepare for clinical use.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Comprehensive review of Chinese medicinal leech (Shuizhi) — ~100 chemical constituents, anticoagulant/antithrombotic/anti-atherosclerotic/anti-fibrotic/anti-inflammatory bioactivities, and toxicology supporting safety.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This comprehensive review systematically evaluates the Chinese medicinal leech (Shuizhi), covering its traditional uses spanning millennia in China (blood stasis disorders, hematological/gynecological diseases, trauma, arthritis, edema), approximately 100 identified chemical constituents (proteins, peptides, amino acids, lipids, sterols, trace elements), and modern pharmacological activities including anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, with toxicity studies supporting safety. For ASH's domain, this is directly and broadly relevant: it is a dedicated ethnopharmacological and pharmacological review of medicinal leeches, the core subject of ASH, integrating traditional hirudotherapy with modern bioactive compound characterization. Caveat: as a review, it compiles existing literature without new experimental data; it notes research gaps in non-cardiovascular traditional uses and calls for expanded safety studies before clinical use.
Citación
Traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and toxicology of Chinese medicinal leech (Shuizhi): A comprehensive review.
Liu J et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2025
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026