EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Leeches produce an enzyme in their saliva called hirudin. Hirudin is a powerful anticoagulant. They produce this to prevent their host from forming a clot so that they can feast on blood more easily.

Detailed explanation-2: -Leech saliva contains hirudin, an anticoagulant and anti-platelet agent that works to prevent blood clots and reduce the amount of congested blood in the tissues.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hirudin. Hirudin is an active component in the leeches’ salivary gland secretion and acts as an effective anticoagulant (blood thinner).

Detailed explanation-4: -The most potent known natural thrombin inhibitor from blood-sucking leeches ( Hirudo medicinalis), hirudin has served as a standard for designing the natural coagulation inhibitors as an anticoagulant drug.

Detailed explanation-5: -Given the potent antithrombotic property, hirudin has been used to treat acute coronary artery disease, deep vein thrombosis and other thrombotic diseases (Zoldhelyi et al., 1993; Levin and Bergqvist, 2001).