Mucus analyses, cosmetic-pharmacological potential and morphological studies in two different medicinal leeches Hirudo verbana and Hirudo sulukii (Hirudinida: Hirudunidae)
Project no. 21910 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2020
Summary
Leeches are important species that have been used for treatment for many years. They have important roles in the treatment of different diseases. However, these groups also have unknown features. Hirudo verbana and Hirudo sulukii secrete mucus to survive like other leech species. The amount of carbohydrate content of the mucus they secrete and whether it could be used in cosmetic-pharmacological terms was a big question. In this study, when statistical comparisons were made in terms of galactose, galactosamine, glucosamine, mannose and sialic acid in the crude mucus of H. verbana and H. sulukii, it was determined that mannose showed a significant difference between these two species. The amount of mannose is higher in H. verbana (6218.53 mg/L). Allantoin and glycolic acid, which are compounds that will show the cosmetic-pharmacological importance of H. verbana and H. sulukii, were firstly detected in the mucus of both leech species. When statistical comparisons are made between two species, allantoin is higher in H. sulukii (980.53 mg/L). These results showed that leeches are a valuable source of allantoin and glycolic acid for the cosmetics and pharmacology sector. When compared anterior and posterior suckers of both species, which are another topic of this project, using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), H. verbana's posterior sucker has protrusions in the form of tubercle in the center part, while this part was more flat in H. sulukii. All these findings will make a great contribution to the literature.