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Science behind Earthworm enzyme
Earthworms as biomedicine
Did you know that medical value of earthworms has been known for centuries which is evident from the history of ancient Southeastern Asian medicine (China, Japan, Vietnam). Earthworms are a source of proteins, peptides, enzymes, and other physiologically active substances.
Numerous medicines have been developed by exploiting the medicinal properties of earthworms, —in particular they have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for at least 2,300 years.
The pharmaceuticals extracted from earthworm as green biomedicine have developed fast in China and throughout Asia. With which, there is a growing tendency for earthworms to become widely used an international medicine.
Proven detoxification mechanisms
There are many science experiments conducted on earthworms that have demonstrated how worms boost crop yields. Moreover, they play a major role in the environment, in the proper functioning of the soil ecosystem, as well as being able to reduce waste, and help vegetation grow by adding important nutrients to the soil. It acts as scavenger and helps in recycling dead and decayed plant material by feeding on them. In addition to which, they increase soil fertility and are often referred to as the farmer’s friend. Furthermore, there is some evidence that they can regenerate parts of their bodies when needed.
The environment in which earthworms live in is typically full of toxic substances, from both chemical and biological sources. At the same time, it is widely acknowledged that as an organism the earthworm itself exhibits all sorts of detoxification mechanisms, aiding the ecosystem to actively repair itself through the direct, active, positive action of earthworms. What is more, several studies have shown that extracts taken from earthworms contain different macromolecules that exhibit a variety of highly desirable medical benefits (such as being antioxidative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, etc.). Some of these activities are involved not only in wound healing but also in decontaminating soil, water, and other toxic substances.
In recent years, the interest in antimicrobial peptide has markedly increased, given that they serve as a first line of defense against microbial invasion, supplementing the host’s humoral and immune system. In fact, earthworms, as well as other invertebrates, do not produce specific antibodies, rather they rely on an innate mechanism for host protection against microbial attacks. Thus, earthworms have developed an efficient defense mechanism against invading microorganisms that threaten their existence. Such defenses are present in the coelomic fluid of earthworms L. rubellus and E. foetida (Stein et al. 1982; Valenbois et al. 1982).
More articles about earthworm studies:
Worms in ecosystem
Charles Darwin and earthworms
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