Detoxication by Medicinal Leeches (Hirudo medicinalis)

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Published Dec 19, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v8i12.2303

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Main Article Content

Maria Habrmanova
Institute of *Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
Anna Cechova
Faculty hospital with policlinic, Merciful Brothers, Hematological Clinic, Bratislava, Slovakia
Helena Cickova
Institute of *Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
Peter Takac
Institute of *Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia; Scientica, Ltd., Bratislava, Slovkia

Abstract

The success of body detoxification by medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) depends on the rich bioactive composition of the medicinal leeches salivas. There is a total of 150 identified bioactive substances that have detoxifying and regenerative effects on the human body. However, the human organism has its own regulatory mechanisms for removing toxic products from the body: detoxification. The aim of our explorative study was to advance these mechanisms and demonstrate the efficiency of the bioactive substances of leech saliva to support the regulation of selected blood parameter levels, i.e. lower cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels, and to ensure the prevention of diseases caused by the fluctuation of the levels of these blood components.


The participants in our study numbered 17. None of them had presented any significant medicinal complications from or contraindications to leech therapy. They participated in a total of seven leech procedures. After the therapy, blood tests for the patients were carried out to compare the blood counts before therapy and after. Using the results, we evaluated the outcomes of the detoxification therapy by using statistical analysis in the R program, version 3.0.0.


Detoxication therapy using medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) had no significant effect on the level of blood components provided to us, but its effect was observed in the subjective health improvements reported by patients.

Keywords: detoxification, Hirudo medicinalis, bioactive substances, blood count

Article Details

How to Cite
HABRMANOVA, Maria et al. Detoxication by Medicinal Leeches (Hirudo medicinalis). Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 8, n. 12, dec. 2020. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/2303>. Date accessed: 22 dec. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v8i12.2303.
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Issue
Vol 8 No 12 (2020): Vol.8 Issue 12, December,2020
Section
Research Articles

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