Earthworms dilong: ancient, inexpensive, noncontroversial models may help clarify approaches to integrated medicine emphasizing neuroimmune systems. | LitMetric
Earthworms have provided ancient cultures with food and sources of medicinal cures. Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and practices in Japan, Vietnam, and Korea have focused first on earthworms as sources of food. Gradually fostering an approach to potential beneficial healing properties, there are renewed efforts through bioprospecting and evidence-based research to understand by means of rigorous investigations the mechanisms of action whether earthworms are used as food and/or as sources of potential medicinal products. Focusing on earthworms grew by serendipity from an extensive analysis of the earthworm's innate immune system. Their immune systems are replete with leukocytes and humoral products that exert credible health benefits. Their emerging functions with respect to evolution of innate immunity have long been superseded by their well-known ecological role in soil conservation. Earthworms as inexpensive, noncontroversial animal models (without ethical concerns) are not vectors of disease do not harbor parasites that threaten humans nor are they annoying pests. By recognizing their numerous ecological, environmental, and biomedical roles, substantiated by inexpensive and more comprehensive investigations, we will become more aware of their undiscovered beneficial properties.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Electronic address:
Stem cells have currently gained attention in the field of medicine not only due to their ability to repair dysfunctional or damaged cells, but also they could be used as drug delivery system after being engineered to do so. Human umbilical cord is attractive source for autologous and allogenic stem cells that are currently amenable to treatment of various diseases. Human umbilical cord stem cells are -in contrast to embryonic and fetal stem cells- ethically noncontroversial, inexpensive and readily available source of cells.
There can be a fine line between therapeutic intervention and substance abuse, and this point is clearly exemplified in herbal cannabis and its products. Therapies involving cannabis have been the treatment of last resort for some cases of refractory epilepsy, and this has been among the strongest medical justifications for legalization of marijuana. In order to circumvent the narcotic effects of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), many studies have concentrated on its less intoxicating isomer cannabidiol (CBD).
Earthworms have provided ancient cultures with food and sources of medicinal cures. Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and practices in Japan, Vietnam, and Korea have focused first on earthworms as sources of food. Gradually fostering an approach to potential beneficial healing properties, there are renewed efforts through bioprospecting and evidence-based research to understand by means of rigorous investigations the mechanisms of action whether earthworms are used as food and/or as sources of potential medicinal products.
The case for controlling congenital rubella as part of The International Initiative Against Avoidable Disablement rests not on the excessive prevalence of the disease but on the severity of its consequent multiple handicaps. Here is a totally preventable disease afflicting a readily identifiable section of the community that is controllable by a vaccine that is safe, noncontroversial, and simple and inexpensive in its application. Successful national programs against rubella have a potential beyond their immediate objective in promoting the use of immunization as the most powerful weapon against other vaccine-preventable diseases that are estimated to disable 5 million children annually.
