A new source of biologically active compounds-earthworm tissue (Eisenia foetida, Lumbricus rubelus)

Hrženjak, Terezija; Hrzenjak, M; Kašuba, Vilena; Efenberger-Marinculic̀, Palma; Levanat, Sonja

doi:10.1016/0300-9629(92)90191-r

Cited by 49 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The upper, water/methanol layer was pipetted out and evaporated on a rotavapor until no methanol was left. An opalescent fluid, pH 7, was obtained, freeze-dried and kept at 4 °C until use (Hrzenjak et al, 1992).…”

Section: Preparation Of Earthworm Extract From Lampito Mauritiimentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypothetical mode of action of earthworm extract with hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties

Balamurugan

Parthasarathi

Ranganathan³

et al. 2008

J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The hepatoprotective potential of earthworm extract (EE) (Lampito mauritii, Kinberg) was evaluated against paracetamol-induced liver injury in Wistar albino rat, in comparison with silymarin, the standard hepatoprotective drug. We observed a reduction in liver antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) and in serum total protein, and an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum aspertate aminotranferase (AST), serum alanine aminotranferase (ALT), bilirubin and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) due to liver injury in the paracetamol-administered rats (2 g/kg). On the contrary, increased activities of liver GSH, SOD, GPx, CAT and serum total protein level, and decrease in the contents of serum ALP, AST, ALT, bilirubin and liver TBARS were observed in rats administered with different doses of EE (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg), which are similar to the activities of hepatoprotective drug silymarin (150 mg/kg). The mode of action of EE as evidenced by the above parameters may suggest that EE, on the one hand, prevents the formation of the reactive oxygen groups, or scavenges these groups, thereby preventing the damage on the hepatic cells, and, on the other hand, modulates the genes responsible for synthesis of antioxidant enzymes such as GPx, CAT and SOD in liver tissue and decreases the serum enzymatic activities such as ALP, AST and ALT.

show abstract

Section: Preparation Of Earthworm Extract From Lampito Mauritiimentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypothetical mode of action of earthworm extract with hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties

Balamurugan

Parthasarathi

Ranganathan³

et al. 2008

J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This macromolecular mixture with glycolipoprotein characteristics has been named G-90. 10 G-90 increased the proliferation of different cell cultures in vitro, depending on the concentration and G-90 is neither a mutagen nor a carcinogen. 10 It was shown that G-90 contains insulin-like growth factors (IGF) with molecular masses between 14 and 95 kDa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…10 G-90 increased the proliferation of different cell cultures in vitro, depending on the concentration and G-90 is neither a mutagen nor a carcinogen. 10 It was shown that G-90 contains insulin-like growth factors (IGF) with molecular masses between 14 and 95 kDa. SDS-PAGE analysis separated these into six fractions, antigenically similar to insulin that induced cell proliferation in vitro.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Stimulation of growth factor synthesis in skin wounds using tissue extract (G‐90) from the earthworm Eissenia foetida

Grdiša

Popović

Hrzenjak

2004

Cell Biochemistry & Function

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Growth factors are biologically-active mediators that bind to specific receptors on target cells and regulate genes involved in cell growth, wound healing and regeneration. In the case of wound healing, a proper wound dressing is needed to cover the wound area, protect the damaged tissue, and if possible to activate cell proliferation and stimulate the healing process. In this study we examined the efficacy of a glycolipoprotein tissue homogenate extract from Eisenia foetida (G-90) to activate signal transduction pathways, leading to wound healing. We measured the activation of EGF and FGF in healthy skin, in wounds with physiological healing and in wounds treated with G-90. The activation of EGF and FGF was measured during the first 24 h of wound healing under both physiological conditions and treatment with G-90. In both cases an increased concentration of EGF and FGF was observed 6 h after wounding. In comparison with healthy skin, the concentration of EGF increased 10-fold and FGF five-fold in wounds treated with G-90 (10 ng ml(-1)). Healing in physiological conditions resulted in a two-fold increase of EGF and 1.5-fold of FGF.

show abstract

“…Subsequently different purification methods were applied to isolate the enzymes, including gel filtration, affinity chromatography, ion exchanging chromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). More proteases have been obtained from different species, such as lumbrokinase [4], earthworm-tissue plasminogen activator [5], earthworm plasminogen activator [6][7][8][9][10][11], component A of EFE (EFEa) [12,13], and biologically active glycolipoprotein complex (G-90) [14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm Protease

Pan

Zhang

2010

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The alimentary tract of earthworm secretes a group of proteases with a relative wide substrate specificity. In 1983, six isozymes were isolated from earthworm with fibrinolytic activities and called fibriniolytic enzymes. So far, more isozymes have been found from different earthworm species such as Lumbricus rubellus and Eisenia fetida. For convenience, the proteases are named on the basis of the earthworm species and the protein function, for instance, Eisenia fetida protease (Ef P). The proteases have the abilities not only to hydrolyze fibrin and other protein, but also activate proenzymes such as plasminogen and prothrombin. In the light of recent studies, eight of the Ef Ps contain oligosaccharides chains which are thought to support the enzyme structure. Interestingly, Ef P-II has a broader substrate specificity presenting alkaline trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase activities, but Ef P-III-1 has a stricter specificity. The protein crystal structures show the characteristics in their specificities. Earthworm proteases have been applied in several areas such as clinical treatment of clotting diseases, anti-tumor study, environmental protection and nutritional production. The current clinical utilizations and some potential new applications of the earthworm protease will be discussed in this paper.

show abstract

A new source of biologically active compounds-earthworm tissue (Eisenia foetida, Lumbricus rubelus)

Cited by 49 publications

References 13 publications

Hypothetical mode of action of earthworm extract with hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties

Hypothetical mode of action of earthworm extract with hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties

Stimulation of growth factor synthesis in skin wounds using tissue extract (G‐90) from the earthworm Eissenia foetida

Earthworm Protease

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About