What are the effects of leeches?

Leeches are a type of insect called leeches. Leech preparations are very effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases. They also have certain anti-cancer effects. They are a relatively common Chinese medicine and are very effective in anti-thrombosis. In addition, it has a certain coagulation effect, can improve the body's microcirculation, and is also very effective in treating stroke, female amenorrhea and trauma.

1. Antithromboxane

Hirudin contained in the salivary glands of fresh leeches is a polypeptide composed of various amino acids with an isoelectric point of pH 3.8, and is relatively stable to denaturation reactions. The pure product is gray or white scales or powder, which easily deteriorates when exposed to heat or in dilute acid. The hirudin in the dried medicinal materials has been destroyed. In addition, it also contains heparin and antithromboxane.

2. Anti-early pregnancy effect

It has the effect of terminating pregnancy at all stages, including implantation and early, middle and late stages, but it is most effective for early pregnancy. If exogenous progesterone is injected with leeches at the same time, it can counteract the anti-early pregnancy effect of leeches.

3. Anticoagulant effect:

It has a significant inhibitory effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation, can reduce the relative viscosity of whole blood and plasma, and shorten the electrophoresis time of red blood cells; hirudin has a preventive effect on thrombosis caused by bacterial endotoxins and can reduce the mortality rate; hirudin can also resist the enhanced contractility of isolated frog hearts caused by antithrombin. In vitro tests showed that leech water extract 200mg/ml, 100mg/ml and 50mg/ml also had a significant inhibitory effect on healthy human platelet aggregation after intragastric administration of 0.45g/kg leech water extract 4h after intragastric administration and continuously for 7 days. Hirudin is a thrombin inhibitor, with each milligram of hirudin containing 10 to 400 antithrombin units of activity;

4. Improves microcirculation:

It can absorb the hematoma of acute cerebral hemorrhage, reduce the inflammatory reaction and edema around the brain tissue, relieve the increased intracranial pressure, improve local circulation, and facilitate the recovery of neurological function; it also promotes the absorption of experimental hematoma in the ear.

5. Tumor Inhibition

Leeches have a significant effect on lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in experimental hyperlipidemia. Hirudin has an inhibitory effect on tumor cells and has a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of liver cancer. Because leeches have a high anticoagulant effect, they are beneficial for anticancer drugs and immune active cells to penetrate into cancer tissues and kill cancer cells.