Fibrinolytic and anticoagulative activities from the earthworm Eisenia foetida

Hrženjak, Terezija; Popović, Maja; Božić, Tatjana T.; Grdiša, Mira; Kobrehel, D; Tiška-Rudman, Ljerka

doi:10.1016/s0305-0491(98)00060-1

Cited by 76 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In order to inhibit the hyperactivity of the u-PA, inhibitors of plasminogen activators are synthesized by the surrounding cells for tissue protection, resulting in a high concentration of fibrin locally. The glycolipoprotein mixture (G-90) was isolated from the homogenate of E. fetida [15][16][17]19], which is assayed in a euglobulinic test applied to fibrin clot from blood plasma of patients who suffered from malignant tumors. The effect of G-90 on the fibrinolysis rate is related to not only its concentration, but also to histological type where the malignant tumors invade.…”

Section: Antitumormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequently different purification methods were applied to isolate the enzymes, including gel filtration, affinity chromatography, ion exchanging chromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). More proteases have been obtained from different species, such as lumbrokinase [4], earthworm-tissue plasminogen activator [5], earthworm plasminogen activator [6][7][8][9][10][11], component A of EFE (EFEa) [12,13], and biologically active glycolipoprotein complex (G-90) [14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Earthworm Protease

Pan

Zhang

2010

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The alimentary tract of earthworm secretes a group of proteases with a relative wide substrate specificity. In 1983, six isozymes were isolated from earthworm with fibrinolytic activities and called fibriniolytic enzymes. So far, more isozymes have been found from different earthworm species such as Lumbricus rubellus and Eisenia fetida. For convenience, the proteases are named on the basis of the earthworm species and the protein function, for instance, Eisenia fetida protease (Ef P). The proteases have the abilities not only to hydrolyze fibrin and other protein, but also activate proenzymes such as plasminogen and prothrombin. In the light of recent studies, eight of the Ef Ps contain oligosaccharides chains which are thought to support the enzyme structure. Interestingly, Ef P-II has a broader substrate specificity presenting alkaline trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase activities, but Ef P-III-1 has a stricter specificity. The protein crystal structures show the characteristics in their specificities. Earthworm proteases have been applied in several areas such as clinical treatment of clotting diseases, anti-tumor study, environmental protection and nutritional production. The current clinical utilizations and some potential new applications of the earthworm protease will be discussed in this paper.

show abstract

Section: Antitumormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm Protease

Pan

Zhang

2010

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In Korea, earthworms are believed to promote general health and prevent a wide variety of diseases (El-Kamali, 2000). Studies on earthworm have shown its antipyretic, antispasmodic, detoxic, diuretic, antihypertensive, antiallergic, anticoagulative, antiasthmatic, spermatocidal, antioxidative, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulceral and anti-inflammatory activities (Hrzenjak et al, 1998;John and Packialakshmi, 2007;Shobha and Kale, 2007;Wang et al, 2007;Balamurugan et al,2009;Ansari and Sitaram, 2010;Cooper and Balamurugan, 2010 ). Earthworms are soil macro invertebrate oligochaete animals that play an important role in the sustainability of soil fertility and productivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative study of antibacterial activity of two different earthworm species, Perionyx excavatus and Pheretima posthuma against pathogenic bacteria

Bansal

Gupta

Singh

et al. 2015

JANS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Disease outbreaks are being increasingly recognized as a significant constraint on aquaculture production and trade affecting the economic development of the sector in many countries. Extracting and using biologically active compounds from earthworms has traditionally been practiced by indigenous people throughout the world. The aim of the present study was to shown antimicrobial activity through earthworm extract against fish bacterial pathogens. In total, 8 bacterial strains i.e. 6 gram negative viz. Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, E.coli, Enterobacter aerogens and Shigella sp. and 2 gram positive viz. Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus were identified. The extract of earthworm Perionyx excavatus, Pheretima posthuma were prepared and antimicrobial activity of the extract was determined by antimicrobial well diffusion assay. After 24 hrs of incubation period, it was observed that earthworm extract showed antibacterial activity against isolated bacterial strains. Among earthworm extract of two different species, the maximum zone of inhibition was shown against A. hydrophila by Perionyx excavatus (18.33± 0.66 mm) and P. posthuma (16.66±0.33). P. excavatus showed antibacterial activity against all pathogenic bacteria except Shigella spp. However on the other hand, P.posthuma showed antibacterial activity against A. hydrophila, P. fluorescens, E.coli, and S. aureus. The study has proved that earthworm extract can be effectively used for suppression of bacterial infection in fishes and that it can used as potential antimicrobial drug against commercial antibiotic resistance bacteria.

show abstract

“…The activity of P I is much higher. P I in concentration of 10 5 ng/ml of plasma shortened the physiological time of fibrin clot lysis by 54 % and completely inhibited blood clotting at a concentration of 10 3 ng/ml of venous blood (10)(11)19). As we will see later, this component has been used to inhibit tumor growth.…”

Section: Lysis Of Fibrin Clots From Venous Blood Of Patients With Malmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include hemolysis, agglutination, mitogenicity, and bacteriostatic activity and cytotoxicity in vitro, components of the earthworm's immune system. There are even claims that earthworms are used by the pharmaceutical industry in China and elsewhere to prepare certain medicinals (lumbrokinase) for treatment and prevention of thrombus and embolic diseases (8)(9)(10)(11).…”

Section: Lysis Of Cancer An International Effortmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative Sources of Fibrinolytic, Anticoagulative, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Molecules

Cooper

Hrženjak

Grdiša

2004

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The medicinal properties of earthworms in various remedies date back to 1340 A.D. and have been extended to other countries and cultures. Assays of tissue homogenates of earthworm (Eisenia foetida) have revealed a glycolipoprotein mixture referred to as G-90 that is composed of macromolecules with medical and pharmaceutical applications. There are several functions attributed to G-90: possession of several growth factors that: stimulate proliferation in cell cultures, contain an insulin like growth factor (IGF like), an immunoglobulin like growth factor (IgFG-like), possess two serine peptidases with a tyrosine code and epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast, G-90 exerts strong fibrinolytic and anticoagulative activity capable of lysing fibrin clots. Actions of these two properties are dependent upon concentration. Anticoagulative activity also depends upon the kind of anticoagulants (G-90, PI, PII). G-90 can also act as antioxidant, exert antimicrobial activities in vitro and in vivo. The bacteriostatic effect is significantly greater for non-pathogenic species. Finally G-90 also participates in tissue regeneration and wound healing. Taken together, components of earthworms could be tested in certain clinical trials.

show abstract

Fibrinolytic and anticoagulative activities from the earthworm Eisenia foetida

Cited by 76 publications

References 24 publications

Earthworm Protease

Earthworm Protease

Comparative study of antibacterial activity of two different earthworm species, Perionyx excavatus and Pheretima posthuma against pathogenic bacteria

Alternative Sources of Fibrinolytic, Anticoagulative, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Molecules

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About