17.2 Different Potentials of Earthworms
17.2.1 Manure Formation
The vermicomposting is the earthworm-assisted process that is able to stabilize and
detoxify all the toxic constituents of the waste into high-quality and nutrient-rich
manure (Bhat et al. 2015a; Padmavathiamma et al. 2008). This manure is used to
enhance the fertility of the soil as it enriches the soil with all the essential elements
that are particularly needed by the healthy plant growth.
17.2.2 Removal of Heavy Metals
The earthworms are found to remove all the toxic heavy metals from all the types of
industrial wastes into the nontoxic form of vermicompost (Brunetto et al. 2014).
Many researchers have also studied that the earthworms are efficiently capable of
removing almost all heavy metals like Cr, Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb.
17.2.3 Antimicrobial Activities
The earthworms were used as different traditional medicines in china to cure many
infectious diseases. They are also used in making many medicines to cure diseases
like pyorrhea postpartum weakness and postpartum hemorrhage. The earthworms
have found to exhibit various antimicrobial activities (Cooper et al. 2004). It is
possible due to the presence of newly found bacterial strain in the midgut of
Dendrobaena veneta (Annelida), which is responsible for its antimicrobial activities
(Marti et al. 2010).
17.2.4 Anticancer Activities
The various bioactive molecules are found in the coelomic fluid of the earthworms
like anticancer agents (Lourdumary and Ramesh 2014). It is also responsible to cure
many tumor-related ailments. It has been found that the coelomic fluid of earthworms contains many active components like cytolytic protein that is an important
component of the human immune system, which is responsible to impart and
enhance the anticancer activities in the earthworms (Bilej et al. 1995).
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285
17.2.1 Manure Formation
The vermicomposting is the earthworm-assisted process that is able to stabilize and
detoxify all the toxic constituents of the waste into high-quality and nutrient-rich
manure (Bhat et al. 2015a; Padmavathiamma et al. 2008). This manure is used to
enhance the fertility of the soil as it enriches the soil with all the essential elements
that are particularly needed by the healthy plant growth.
17.2.2 Removal of Heavy Metals
The earthworms are found to remove all the toxic heavy metals from all the types of
industrial wastes into the nontoxic form of vermicompost (Brunetto et al. 2014).
Many researchers have also studied that the earthworms are efficiently capable of
removing almost all heavy metals like Cr, Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb.
17.2.3 Antimicrobial Activities
The earthworms were used as different traditional medicines in china to cure many
infectious diseases. They are also used in making many medicines to cure diseases
like pyorrhea postpartum weakness and postpartum hemorrhage. The earthworms
have found to exhibit various antimicrobial activities (Cooper et al. 2004). It is
possible due to the presence of newly found bacterial strain in the midgut of
Dendrobaena veneta (Annelida), which is responsible for its antimicrobial activities
(Marti et al. 2010).
17.2.4 Anticancer Activities
The various bioactive molecules are found in the coelomic fluid of the earthworms
like anticancer agents (Lourdumary and Ramesh 2014). It is also responsible to cure
many tumor-related ailments. It has been found that the coelomic fluid of earthworms contains many active components like cytolytic protein that is an important
component of the human immune system, which is responsible to impart and
enhance the anticancer activities in the earthworms (Bilej et al. 1995).
17 Earthworm-Assisted Amelioration of Thermal Ash
285