Study of analgesic effect of earthworm extract. Bioscience reports Pain represents a major clinical problem and one which has exercised generations of healthcare professionals. Earthworms are used as a traditional Chinese medicine, and have been applied pharmacologically and clinically since a long time in China. However, the analgesic effects of earthworm extract (EE) are seldom studied. Hence, we evaluated the analgesic effects of EE in mice. The obtained data showed that EE increased pain threshold and exhibited peripheral but not central analgesic effects in mice; evidenced by increased inhibition ratio in acetic acid writhing test and formalin test, whereas only slight increase in inhibition ratio in hot plate test and tail immersion test. In addition, EE decreased serum norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) concentration, similar to other analgesic drugs like morphine and aspirin. In a nutshell, the obtained data have demonstrated that EE has peripheral analgesic properties and could be used as a promising analgesic drug. 10.1042/BSR20171554

Pharmacological effects of bioactive agents in earthworm extract: A comprehensive review. Animal models and experimental medicine This review compiles information from the literature on the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and molecular mechanisms of earthworm extract (EE) and suggests possibilities for clinical translation of EE. We also consider future trends and concerns in this domain. We summarize the bioactive components of EE, including G-90, lysenin, lumbrokinase, antimicrobial peptides, earthworm serine protease (ESP), and polyphenols, and detail the antitumor, antithrombotic, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, wound-healing, antifibrotic, and hypoglycemic activities and mechanisms of action of EE based on existing in vitro and in vivo studies. We further propose the potential of EE for clinical translation in anticancer and lipid-modifying therapies, and its promise as source of a novel agent for wound healing and resistance to antibiotic tolerance. The earthworm enzyme lumbrokinase embodies highly effective anticoagulant and thrombolytic properties and has the advantage of not causing bleeding phenomena due to hyperfibrinolysis. Its antifibrotic properties can reduce the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. The glycolipoprotein extract G-90 can effectively scavenge reactive oxygen groups and protect cellular tissues from oxidative damage. Earthworms have evolved a well-developed defense mechanism to fight against microbial infections, and the bioactive agents in EE have shown good antibacterial, fungal, and viral properties in in vitro and in vivo experiments and can alleviate inflammatory responses caused by infections, effectively reducing pain. Recent studies have also highlighted the role of EE in lowering blood glucose. EE shows high medicinal value and is expected to be a source of many bioactive compounds. 10.1002/ame2.12465