Earthworms have been employed in traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of neurological disorders, as anticonvulsants, analgesics, and sedatives. In fact, earthworms are currently used as a medicinal agent in China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and North Korea. However, both the species and the genus of the earthworms registered in the pharmacopoeia of each country are different. Neural injury is induced by oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. The role of various synthetic chemicals of earthworms as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents have been studied and earthworm extract and its components have been shown to protect nerve cells and restore nerve function in various preclinical neuronal damage models. We employed earthworm extracts to provide prevention and treatment strategies for many neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease, mild cognitive impairment, cerebral infarction, and peripheral nerve damage. In this study, we investigated the effects of earthworm extracts and its components to explore their prophylactic and therapeutic effects in various neuropathic models. We used earthworm resources to provide prevention and treatment strategies for many neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease, mild cognitive impairment, cerebral infarction, and peripheral nerve damage. We summarized the protective effects of both earthworms and their extracts on neuropathies. The current study identified some earthworm components to be used in treatment and prevention strategies for nerve disorders and could be helpful for the development of new therapies for intractable diseases.

Introduction
  The taxonomic origin of the earthworm herbalmedicine in East Asian countries
  The role of the earthworm in neuroinflammation
  The role of earthworm in Parkinson’s disease
  The role of earthworm in hippocampal injury
  The role of the earthworm in brain ischemia
  The role of the earthworm in peripheral nerve regenerationafter injury
 Conclusion
 References

• Byeong Cheol Moon(Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
• Joong Sun Kim(Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine) Corresponding author