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MAGGOT THERAPY IN MEDICINE. maggot therapy mechanisms of action Medicinal
maggots have at least two confirmed beneficial effects ...
Submitted by worya1 on March 7, 2007
Category: Science
Words: 2291 | Pages: 10
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maggot therapy mechanisms of action
Medicinal maggots have at least two confirmed beneficial effects on wounds that can be supported by laboratory investigations. They are debridement, or elimination of necrotic tissue, and removal of pathogenic bacteria. There is moreover, evidence from recent studies that they may also accelerate wound healing by promoting the formation of granulation tissue as suggested by the early literature,
Wound debridement activity
Necrophagous larvae feed on the dead tissue, cellular debris, and serous drainage (exudate) of corpses or necrotic wounds. Maggots, contrary to popular belief, do not have teeth and therefore cannot actively `chew away' dead tissue. They feed mainly by a process of extracorporeal digestion. Secreted collagenases and trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like enzymes have been described1-8, which breakdown the necrotic tissue into a semi-liquid form that the creatures can ingest. Because of this mode of action they have previously be likened to `living chemical factories'9, or carpet `shampooers'10.
Casu et al..8 purified two chymotrypsin-like proteases from the secretory and excretory material of first instar larvae. At least one of these proteases was thought to degrade collagen, confirming the earlier observations of Ziffren4.
Maggots also have a pair of mandibles or hooks, which they use to assist in locomotion and provide attachment to the tissue. It has been observed that these hooks are also used during feeding to disrupt membranes and thus facilitate the penetration of their proteolytic enzymes10. The debridement process may be further aided by the maggots crawling about within the wound dislodging small amounts of necrotic material
Antimicrobial activity
As the natural habitats of blow fly larvae, (corpses, wounds and excrement), abound with bacteria, it has long been realized that the maggots must be able to tolerate, if not...
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