Journal of Sanskrit Samhita Siddhanta
2016, Vol 2|3:Oct - Dec
ISSN : 2454-3926
MECHANISM OF ACTION OF LEECH BY DIFFERENT SALIVARY
SECRETIONS
Krantikumar D. Amaley1, Amit M.Naphade2
1
Asso. Prof. & H.O.D. Dept. of Agadtantra & Vyavahar Ayurved, Vidarbha Ayurved
Mahavidyalaya, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
2
Medical Officer, Ayurveda Wellness Centre,
Central Govt. Health Scheme, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
ABSTRACT:
Blood letting with Leech application for Rakta vikaras & Pittaj rogas is one of the best
therapy mentioned in Ayurvedic classics. Aacharya Sushrut stated that it is one of the
important measure for treating surgical problem also. In day to day ayurveda practice,
Jaloukavacharan is very widely used for various therapeutics. Hence it is part of curiosity
that how leech does this great job? What is mechanism of action? Jaloukavacharan acts as a
tool to eliminate the impure blood. Why leech inject the anaesthetic & anticoagulant into the
host body? Leech secrets diverse ( varied) salivery secretions for their own convenient &
protection. But simultaneously these secretions are also useful for the therapeutics uses in
human body.
KEYWORDS: Leech, Hirudin, Hyaluronidase, Anticoagulant, Anaesthetic agent.
INTRODUCTION:


Mode of Action :

Jaloukavacharan is advised when
is deep.
congestion caused by stagnant
Sushrut
and tortuosity of veins.
the

management for the disorders of
skin,mamsa,sira and asrik.

vascular
blood, hence reducing the bulge
narrates
as
focal
in
relieving
Aharya
of
facilitates
the seat of manifestation of doshas
Jaloukavacharana

Jaloukavacharana
Jaloukavacharana acts as a tool to
eliminate the impure blood (toxic
in
filled). There by facilitating the
pacifying the vitiated Rakta and
increase in circulation of pure
Pitta by its shamak property.
blood, ultimately encouraging the
It also reduces the vivarnata or
nourishment of the diseased part.
discolouration
Hence permitting the part to retain
Jaloukavacharana
and
helps
softens
the
the normalcy. This helps in faster
surrounding muscles.
27
Journal of Sanskrit Samhita Siddhanta

healing of ulcers and cure for

2016, Vol 2|3:Oct - Dec
ISSN : 2454-3926
Within 30 minutes ,these leeches
dermatological disorders.
are each capable of ingesting up to
Leech by sucking the impure blood
10 times their body weight (5ml to
creates
15ml) of blood.
a
vacuum
there
by

triggering the natural haemopoesis
The leech detaches itself when its
to take place.
meal is complete ,which along with

Bite of Leech is antiseptic.
the anticoagulant factors in its

Hirudo medicinalis is parasitic and
saliva, allows the wound to ooze up
the adults feed on the blood of
to another 50 ml of blood. This
mammels .It attaches to the host by
continued bleeding from the site
means of two suckers and bites
that has the most therapeutic
through the skin of its victim.
benefit.





Why leech inject the anaesthetic
As above ,from the beginning of
agent and anticoagulant into the
the bite, diverse (varied) salivary
host body ? – During the sucking
secretions play important role –
of blood simultaneously, the leech
1) Anesthetic secretions.
injects an anaesthetic so that its
2) Vasodilator secretions.
presence is not detected by the host
3) Anti-coagulant secretions.
and an anticoagulant in order for
4) Photolytic inhibitors.
the incision to remain open during
5) Antibiotic properties.
the meal.
6) Other useful enzymes.
As
And exactly these two processes
previously
that means sucking of blood and
mentioned,
injecting of useful enzymes in the
these diverse secretions for
human body, are fruit full for the
their
therapeutic use of leeches.
protection. But simultaneously
The leech attaches to the skin with
these different secretions are
its muscular sucker and bites the
also useful for the therapeutic
patient with three jaws.
uses in human body.
own
leeches
secrets
convenient
Stomach peristalsis forces blood
1) Anesthetic secretions-
out of the patient and into the body

and
The bite of all blood sucking
leeches is painless. It is supposed
of leech.
28
Journal of Sanskrit Samhita Siddhanta

that , this is due to an anesthetic


rich polypeptide (produced by the
This substance is not identified yet,
salivary glands of the medicinal
but it is known that it is different
leech) which indicates it is ‘amla’
from Hirudin.
(acidic property). Amla dravyas
(acids) increase the Tanutvam by
factor-
causing Vilayanatvam and thereby
The medicinal leech contains a
the vitiated Pitta is eliminated out
substance
by
with
anticoagulant


jaloukavacharana.Hence
decreases
maintain the fluidity of its victims
viscosity and density that might
blood.
have
This vasodilator was given the
obstruction (deep vein thrombosis)
name Hirudin.
and stagnation.

the
been
Hirudin
whole
it
properties that the leech use to
Hirudin:

Hirudin is a 65 amino-acid cysteine
secreted by the leech.
2) Vasodilator and Anti-coagulant

2016, Vol 2|3:Oct - Dec
ISSN : 2454-3926
formed
being
due
a
to
potent
It is characterized as a specific
thrombolytic
tight binding thrombin inhibitor
thrombolysing the thrombus if any.
with
structure
It is fibrinolytic hence causes
containing 65 Amino acids and
destruction of accumulated fibrin
having a molecular weight of about
locally.(Fibrin cuff theory).It helps
7000 Daltons.
in Stroto-avarodha nivarana.
a
polypeptide

This anticoagulant is produced by
agent
blood
helps
in
A vasodilator in the form of an
the peripharyngeal glands of leech.
anti-histamine facilitates prolonged
Hirudin ,the principle anticoagulant
drawing of blood.
,binds to the active site of thrombin
and prevents the conversion of
fibrinogen
to
fibrin
in
Hyaluronidase
the

coagulation cascade. It is used
The Hyaluronidase serves as a
today as an anticoagulant in the
spreading factor at the site and
form
approved
anaesthetize the part and increases
recombinant protein known as r-
the tissue permeability facilitating
hirudin.
the free movement of intracellular
of
a
FDA
29
Journal of Sanskrit Samhita Siddhanta

fluid. It helps in relieving the

dissolving
It is also anti-inflammatory .Hence
compounds that inhibit platelet
the leeches draw the blood causing
aggregation.

Proteolytic inhibitors.


Three
classes
Proteolytic
enzyme
a
Prostanoid
and
Hirudin,Bdellin and Eglin.
platelet aggregation.
–
(already

discussed
diphosphate
induced
Another substance ,calin ,impedes
above)
platelet collagen interaction and
Bdellin – It is having a molecular
von Willebrand factor collagen
weight of about 5000 Daltons.It is
binding, further inhibiting platelet
the
adhesion.
smallest
known
naturally
inhibitor

of
Histamine
like
vasodilators
Trypsin,Plasmin and Acrosin.
prolong bleeding time and increase
Eglin- The low molecular weight
regional
of Eglin is a potent inhibitor of
Hyaluronidase helps increase the
Elastase,
spread of all the salivary secretions.
Cathepsin-G,

Antibiotic properties:
blood
Prostaglandin
found

Ultimately
vasodilatation
studied. The antibiotic property in
anticoagulation
Hirudino medicinalis is produced
flow at the site.
a
bacterium
Aeromonas
known
hydrophilia,
as
which
bacteria
tuberculosis,dysentery,
improve
and
blood
some diseases.
1) Piles :- (Particularly thrombus and
prolapsed piles)
This bacterium cultured in vitro
the
leech
Specific mechanism with reference to the
lives endosymbiotically in its gut.
kills
in
and
the site (Anti-inflammatory).
Since 19 the century , antibiotic
by
flow
saliva help reduce any swelling at
properties of leech have been

the
Adenosine
Hirudin
and
fraction of leech saliva inhibit
Chymotrypsin.

Specifically,
Destabilase
of
enzymes
inhibitors are isolated. These are
occurring

Leech saliva also contains clot-
internal tension and pruritus.
little pain to the patients.

2016, Vol 2|3:Oct - Dec
ISSN : 2454-3926

of
dyptheria
As
per
textual
description,
raktamokshana is indicated in pitta
and staphylococcus aureus.
rakta dushti rogas by different
methods.
Different useful enzymes:
30
Journal of Sanskrit Samhita Siddhanta



Leech therapy is one among them,
2016, Vol 2|3:Oct - Dec
ISSN : 2454-3926
The
basic
ingredient
proved as productive anushalya
lasuna(Garlic).lasuna
chikitsa
vataharam
in
prolapsed
piles
&
is
is
rasayanam.
,originated by vitiation of Pitta and
lasuna
Rakta.
thrombolytic,fibrinolytic,antico
By the application of leech it sucks
agulant,anti-bacterial,anti-
the stagnated blood from prolapsed
fungal and anti-viral.By virtue
pile mass ,there by reduces the
of which it discourages the
congestion inside the engorged
primary pathology and also
haemorrhoidal veins,reduces the
prevents
mass
the
infection especially in case of
discharge
varicose dermatitis and venous
/
masses
relieving
inflammation,mucous

2). Vericose-Veins :

In
from
secondary
ulcers.
and pruritus.

is
varicose
Like wise in many condition
jaloukavacharana is very very
veins
Jaloukavacharana facilitates in
effective.*udumbarkushta
relieving
*suryavarta
of
local
vascular
congestion caused by stagnant
*filariasis(Repeated sitting is
blood, thereby reducing the
necessary)
*dushtavrana
bulge and tortuosity of veins
*vatarakta
*ama-vata
,thus helping in restoration of
*galganda *chronic headache
normalcy in the part.
many
Along with jaloukavacharana
vicharchika,boils(Pidaka)
internal
administration
skin
CONCLUSION:
much effective to treat the

why
like
of
“Lasunadi-vati” is also very
varicosity,
disorder
The leech main therapeutic benefits
because,
are not derived only from the
majority of the ingredients have
average 5ml of blood removed
thrombolytic,
during
fibrinolytic
biting,
but
from
property & are indicated in
anticoagulant
circulatory disorders. Some are
contained in the leech saliva.

directly indicated in veins.
&
the
vasodilators
The goal then is to produce an
adequate venous out flow from the
31
Journal of Sanskrit Samhita Siddhanta


tissue by adjusting the number of
inflammation,
leech application.
diseases, and is used to relieve
Leeches are generally useful on
pressure and restore circulation in
areas where there is good arterial
tissue
inflow but no venous outflow.
accumulation is likely such as
It is very important that leeches
severed fingers and ears.
congenital
grafts
where
heart
blood
only be use in condition of venous
“Leech is Logical lips which eliminate the
congestion
impure blood and eject the enzymes, thus
with
good
arterial
clearing
inflow. Thus, all salivary secretion
the clot by the help of Hirudin &
(e.g Hirudin) helps in stroto-
Hyaluronidase action.”
avarodha nivarana.

2016, Vol 2|3:Oct - Dec
ISSN : 2454-3926
Leech
therapy
become
This is the mechanism of action of
an
leech.
increasingly popular method of
blood letting in condition like
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