Antithrombotic pharmacodynamics and metabolomics study in raw and processed products of

Objective: As a traditional Chinese medicine, leech has obvious pharmacological activities in anticoagulantion and antithrombosis. Methods: Raw and talcum-powdered processed WP were administered intragastrically for 14 days, and carrageenan was injected intraperitoneally to prepare a mouse model of tail vein thrombosis. The incidence rate of tail vein thrombosis and the thrombus area under pathological tissue sections were calculated to evaluate the antithrombotic effect between raw and processed WP. Non-targeted metabolomics was conducted using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology to analyze the changes of small molecule metabolites in the body after administration of WP. Results: After intragastric administration, both the raw product and the processed product of WP could inhibit the thrombosis induced by carrageenan, and the processed product had a more apparent antithrombotic effect than the raw product. The administration of WP could regulate the changes of some small molecular metabolites, such as amino acids, lipids, and steroids, in Sphingolipid metabolism and Glycerophospholipid metabolism. Conclusions: Based on the results of pharmacodynamics and metabolomics, processed WP will not reduce the antithrombotic activity of WP. This study provided a scientific basis for the rational use of leeches.