PriMera Scientific Surgical Research and Practice (ISSN: 2836-0028)

Mini-Review

Volume 7 Issue 1

Earthworms in Modern Medicine (Annelida: Oligochaeta)

John Warren Reynolds* and Wilma M Reynolds

December 18, 2025

DOI : 10.56831/PSSRP-07-235

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Abstract

Earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) are increasingly recognized as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with significant medical potential. Extracts such as lumbrokinase, peptides, and polysaccharides demonstrate anticoagulant, fibrinolytic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These activities support applications in cardiovascular therapy, wound healing, infection control, and regenerative medicine. Advances in isolation and characterization techniques have enabled the transition of earthworm-derived substances from traditional remedies to evidence-based biomedical research.

Keywords: Lumbrokinase; Anticoagulants; Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Wound Healing/drug effects; Regenerative Medicine; Drug Discovery; Biological Products/therapeutic use

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