Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts
Snail slime (SS) is a viscous secretion obtained from different snail species. SS composition is variable according to factors such as the extraction method. Even if several papers have been published regarding this topic, the molecular mechanisms at the base of SS biological effects remain unexplor...
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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author | Alessia Ricci Marialucia Gallorini Nadine Feghali Simone Sampò Amelia Cataldi Susi Zara |
author_facet | Alessia Ricci Marialucia Gallorini Nadine Feghali Simone Sampò Amelia Cataldi Susi Zara |
author_sort | Alessia Ricci |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Snail slime (SS) is a viscous secretion obtained from different snail species. SS composition is variable according to factors such as the extraction method. Even if several papers have been published regarding this topic, the molecular mechanisms at the base of SS biological effects remain unexplored. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the capability of SS, extracted with the cruelty-free Muller method, to promote viability and angiogenesis processes and, in parallel, to counteract inflammation occurrence on skin cell populations. SS was administered to keratinocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts, then cell viability, through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, cytotoxicity by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, morphology by haematoxylin-eosin staining, gene and protein expression through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot, cell cycle phases by flow cytometry, and collagen secretion using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, were measured. Our results evidence SS capability to promote fibroblast viability and to trigger recovery mechanisms by activating the Erk protein. Moreover, an appreciable anti-inflammatory effect due to the significant reduction in cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and a positive modulation of new blood vessel formation demonstrated by increased Angiopoietin 1 gene expression and a higher matrix deposition (evidenced by the augmented amount of released collagen I) can be identified. This evidence led us to assume that the Muller method extracted-SS represents a valuable and promising natural product suitable for cosmetic and skin care formulations. |
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spelling | doaj.art-0e8805dd324b4048ae1ce84e607e9f852023-11-16T17:29:23ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-01-01283122210.3390/molecules28031222Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on FibroblastsAlessia Ricci0Marialucia Gallorini1Nadine Feghali2Simone Sampò3Amelia Cataldi4Susi Zara5Department of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyInternational Institution of Heliciculture of Cherasco-Lumacheria Italiana s.r.l., 12062 Cherasco, ItalyInternational Institution of Heliciculture of Cherasco-Lumacheria Italiana s.r.l., 12062 Cherasco, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalySnail slime (SS) is a viscous secretion obtained from different snail species. SS composition is variable according to factors such as the extraction method. Even if several papers have been published regarding this topic, the molecular mechanisms at the base of SS biological effects remain unexplored. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the capability of SS, extracted with the cruelty-free Muller method, to promote viability and angiogenesis processes and, in parallel, to counteract inflammation occurrence on skin cell populations. SS was administered to keratinocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts, then cell viability, through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, cytotoxicity by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, morphology by haematoxylin-eosin staining, gene and protein expression through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot, cell cycle phases by flow cytometry, and collagen secretion using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, were measured. Our results evidence SS capability to promote fibroblast viability and to trigger recovery mechanisms by activating the Erk protein. Moreover, an appreciable anti-inflammatory effect due to the significant reduction in cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and a positive modulation of new blood vessel formation demonstrated by increased Angiopoietin 1 gene expression and a higher matrix deposition (evidenced by the augmented amount of released collagen I) can be identified. This evidence led us to assume that the Muller method extracted-SS represents a valuable and promising natural product suitable for cosmetic and skin care formulations.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/3/1222snail slimeskinfibroblastsinflammationkeratinocytesmacrophages |
spellingShingle | Alessia Ricci Marialucia Gallorini Nadine Feghali Simone Sampò Amelia Cataldi Susi Zara Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts Molecules snail slime skin fibroblasts inflammation keratinocytes macrophages |
title | Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts |
title_full | Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts |
title_fullStr | Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts |
title_full_unstemmed | Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts |
title_short | Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts |
title_sort | snail slime extracted by a cruelty free method preserves viability and controls inflammation occurrence a focus on fibroblasts |
topic | snail slime skin fibroblasts inflammation keratinocytes macrophages |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/3/1222 |
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