"A report by scientists from The Netherlands published in The FASEB Journal identifies a compound in human saliva that greatly speeds wound healing. This research may offer hope to people suffering from chronic wounds related to diabetes and other disorders, as well as traumatic injuries and burns...
Specifically, scientists found that histatin, a small protein in saliva previously only believed to kill bacteria was responsible for the healing...
"This study not only answers the biological question of why animals lick their wounds," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal, "it also explains why wounds in the mouth, like those of a tooth extraction, heal much faster than comparable wounds of the skin and bone. It also directs us to begin looking at saliva as a source for new drugs."
Do you know why cats lick their butts?
ReplyDeleteTo get the tase of cat food out of their mouths!
It's funny that you should make a post about human saliva and the licking thing. If I cut myself shaving I always lick it and that's the only thing that gets the cuts to stop bleeding :O I know it sounds weird >_<
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