Abstract
THE anticoagulant activity of leeches has been known for a long time. Haycraft1 obtained a saline extract of the anticoagulin from the head of a leech, and found that a dose of 0.01 mgm. would prevent the normal coagulation of 50 ml. blood for four and a half hours. Various investigators have since employed different techniques in their study of the anticoagulant action of leech extract. In our experiments with the common Indian cattle leech (Hirudinaria), an extract of the anticoagulant substance was prepared from the first eight segments of the body of the leech. The tissues were pounded with pure quartz sand in a mortar and the solution filtered through a cotton plug, freed from protein and buffered to pH 7.2 with Sørensen phosphate buffer.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Haycraft, J. B., Arch. Exper. Pathol. u. Pharm., 18 (1884).
Marshall, J. Pharm., 7 (1915).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LAL, M., CHOWDHURY, N. Anticoagulant Activity of the Indian Cattle Leech. Nature 166, 480 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/166480a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/166480a0
This article is cited by
-
Studies on the host-parasite interaction and role of esterases during biting of the Indian cattle leech, Poecilobdella granulosa
Zeitschrift f�r Parasitenkunde (1976)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.