Investigating the inhibitory effects of carotenoids-fortified Helix aspersa slime on oxidative stress, collagenase and tyrosinase enzyme activities.

Background: The investigations of snail slime and its possible biological activities have been performed recently.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the properties of Helix aspersa snail slime (HAS), and carotenoids-fortified slime (HASC).

Methods: Snails were fed with carrots for 10 days. Slime was collected and extracted using water. Saponins identification, antioxidant, collagenase, and tyrosinase enzyme inhibition activities, carotenoids, total phenols, and flavonoids content, were determined. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis was performed for phytochemical characterization.

Results: Saponins were detected in the HAS extract only. However, HASC was shown to contain a higher carotenoid content than HAS (29.51 ± 0.4 vs. 18.11 ± 0.2 μg/g). similarly, total phenolic and flavonoid content were higher for the the HASC extract compared to the HAS (182.3 ± 5.2 vs. 150.28 ± 3.3 mg/g equivalent to gallic acid), and (77.62 ± 1.2 vs. 14.19 ± 0.9 mg/g equivalent to quercetin). As expected, the HASC extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity compared to the HAS, using DPPH and the ABTS assays (IC₅₀ = 7.75 ± 0.14 vs. 20.1 ± 0.4 μg/mL), and (IC₅₀ = 7.6 ± 0.26 vs. 19.57 ± 1.4 μg/mL). UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of several phytocomponents of which, hexadecanoic acid and ascorbic acid, were observed in the HASC extract. Furthermore, HASC extract exhibited superior inhibitory activity compared to HAS against collagenase and tyrosinase enzymes (IC₅₀ = 8.4 ± 1.19 vs. 15.3 ± 1.12 μg/mL) and (IC₅₀ = 30.1 ± 0.91 vs. 35 ± 1.3 μg/mL).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of HASC as a valuable ingredient in various pharmaceutical applications, due to their content of various phenolic, antioxidants, carotenoids, hexadecanoic, and ascorbic acids. The latter is well known for its great cosmeceutical applications used for slowing the process of skin aging.