Chinese Medicinal Leech: Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities.
Hirudo (Shuizhi in Chinese) is an important Chinese medicine, which possesses many therapeutic properties for the treatment of the cerebral hemorrhage and other thrombosis-related diseases. The phytochemical investigation gave more than 51 compounds including pteridines, phosphatidylcholines, glycosphingolipids, and sterols, as well as some bioactive peptides from the Shuizhi derived from three animal species recorded in the current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The pharmacological studies on the Shuizhi have revealed various activities such as anticoagulation, antithrombosis, antiatherosclerosis, antiplatelet aggregation, antitumor and anti-inflammatory as well as hemorheology improvement, and protective effects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, some important issues based on the traditional uses of Shuizhi are still not clear. The aim of the present review is to provide comprehensive knowledge on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Shuizhi. It will provide a potential guidance in exploring main active compounds of Shuizhi and interpreting the action mechanism for the further research.
Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China.
Han
H
Dong
The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130021, China.
Ji-Xiang
JX
Ren
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Beijing 100700, China; College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
Jing-Jing
JJ
Wang
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Beijing 100700, China; College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
Li-Shuai
LS
Ding
The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130021, China.
Jian-Jun
JJ
Zhao
Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China.
Song-Yan
SY
Liu
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
Hui-Min
HM
Gao