Leech / LSE Flap-Survival VEGF Induction (Rat)
Dorsal random skin-flap rat model: medicinal leech application + leech saliva extract injection both increase VEGF, neovascularisation + reduce necrosis vs control — Ünal 2025.
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- Dorsal random skin-flap rat model: medicinal leech application + leech saliva extract injection both increase VEGF, neovascularisation + reduce necrosis vs control — Ünal 2025.
- Evidence level
- Preclinical (animal)
- Drug vs leech
- Whole medicinal leech
- Safety domains
- Bleeding · Aeromonas infection · Tissue failure
Clinical translation limit
Rat dorsal-flap model results do NOT translate directly to human microsurgical flap salvage outcomes. The K040187 device clearance covers venous-congestion flap salvage; novel saliva-extract-injection routes are NOT cleared by FDA and have unknown safety profile in humans.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Other
- Evidence tier
- Preclinical
- Source species
- Hirudo verbana / medicinalis (whole-leech + saliva extract)
- Discovered
- 2025 · Ünal K et al.
Biological Targets
- → VEGF-induced neovascularisation; epithelial regeneration; granulation tissue thickness
Key Citations
- Ünal K et al. (2025), J Complement Integr Med · PMID 40968464
External Resources
Related Other Compounds
Granulin (leech-derived)
Growth factor and wound-healing modulator — promotes angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.
Leech VEGF Modulator
Vascular endothelial growth factor pathway modulator — angiogenic and wound-healing implications.
Leech PDGF Modulator
Platelet-derived growth factor pathway modulator — implications for wound-healing.
Leech Granulin-A
Granulin-family peptide identified in Hirudo medicinalis — putative growth-factor / wound-healing analog (mechanistic only).