Some Biological Activities of Malaysian Leech Saliva Extract

Abstract

Leeches were fed on the phagostimulatory solution through parafilm membrane. The satiated leeches were forced to regurgitate the solution by soaking them in an ice-container. The anticoagulant activity was ascertained using thrombin time assay (TT). The result revealed that the saliva concentration which increases TT by 100% (IC100) is 43.205µg/ml plasma. The antimicrobial activity of the saliva was tested against several bacterial spp. (E.coli, P.aeruginosa, B.cereus, Sal.typhi and S.aureus) and fungi spp. (C.albicans and C.neoformans). It was found that saliva has an inhibition activity against Sal.typhi (minimal inhibitory concentration MIC 78.253µg/ml), S.aureus (MIC 78.253µg/ml) and E.coli (MIC 121.256µg/ml).ABSTRAK: Pacat-pacat diberi makan larutan phagostimulatory menerusi membran parafilem. Pacat-pacat yang kekenyangan itu dipaksa memuntahkan larutan tersebut dengan direndam di dalam bekas berisi ais. Aktiviti antigumpal ditentukan menggunakan cerakin masa trombin (TT). Keputusan menunjukkan kepekatan air liur pacat menyebabkan pertambahan TT sebanyak 100% (IC100) iaitu 43.205µg/ml plasma. Aktiviti antimikrob air liur telah diuji dengan pelbagai jenis bakteria (E.coli, P.aeruginosa, B.cereus, Sal.typhi dan S.aureus) dan pelbagai jenis kulat (C.albicans and C.neoformans). Didapati air liur menghasilkan aktiviti perencatan terhadap Sal.typhi (kepekatan perencat minima (Minimal inhibitory concentration - MIC) 78.253µg/ml), S.aureus (MIC 78.253µg/ml) dan E.coli (MIC 121.256µg/ml).

Anticancer Effects of Medical Malaysian Leech Saliva Extract (LSE)

“…Additionally, some proteins extracted from the annelid earthworm exhibited both cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects besides to their hemolysis activity [27,28]. Thus, we can suggest that the antiproliferative activity of LSE maybe due to the existence of antimicrobial components which we previously evidenced [16].…”

“…Leech saliva extract (LSE) was collected from the starved leeches as we already described using 0.011 M arginine in normal saline as a phagostimulatory solution [16].…”

Low Back Pain Treatments in Traditional Iranian Medicine

“…The importance of leech in clinical therapy can be simply understood from the use of it for different therapy in thousands of years ago [46]. 1500 before Christ, in the paintings of the Pharaohs era, has mentioned to leech therapy [47].…”

“…In Talmud book, Bible holy book and other Bible versions of the Jews, signs of leech therapy can be seen [47], in the Christian era, the use of leech has become popular and it was used almost everywhere in the world. Greek doctors had been used leech for rheumatic pain therapy, Gout, types of fever and hearing loss.…”

“…Recently, a broad study on Saliva leech has been shown that this substance contains a variety of bioactive peptides and proteins include anti-thrombin (Herodine, Bufferedin), antibodies (colin, Saratin), factor Xa inhibitors (LFA), antibacterial (Travesin, Thromicin) and As a result, leech known as a new therapy for many chronic disease and life threats such as various types of pains, cardiovascular problems, cancer, metastases, and infectious disease [47].…”