title: A systematic overview of the medicinal importance of sanguivorous leeches.
abstract: Leeches are a class of segmented invertebrates, known for their blood-feeding habits and used in phlebotomy to treat various ailments since antiquity. In Europe, medicinal leeches have recently been rediscovered and are used by maxillofacial and other microsurgeons to aid salvage of compromised venous engorged tissue and amputations, such as digits, ears, and nasal tips. Because of their important salivary components, blood-sucking (sanguivorous) leeches, such as Hirudo medicinalis and related species, have engendered great interest from pharmaceutical companies searching for anticoagulants to prevent blood clotting during microsurgeries. Scientific research reveals that the beneficial effects of leeching, in addition to decongestion, include injection of a cocktail of several medicinally useful bioactive molecules present in their saliva. Owing to its therapeutic potential, the research is continuing as many new salivary compounds are being isolated and synthesized.
authors: H.S.Z.H. Govt. Unani Medical College, Behind MANIT, Nehru Nagar-Kolar Bypass Road, Bhopal (M.P.), India. drsymab@gmail.com
authors: S M Abbas
authors: SM
authors: Zaidi
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Jameel
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Zaman
authors: Shazia
authors: S
authors: Jilani
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sultana
authors: Shariq A
authors: SA
authors: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001815:Bloodletting; D004487:Edema / Q000628:therapy; D005060:Europe; D006406:Hematoma / Q000628:therapy; D047709:Hirudo medicinalis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D024763:Leeching / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides