The use of natural products in skin care has shown promising results on improving skin health. Recently, increased efforts have been placed on investigating the effects of snail-derived products in skin rejuvenation. The use of snail secretions in medicine can be traced back to ancient Greece, where snail secretions were used to reduce inflammation and signs of aging.
From wrinkles to burns to wounds, snail mucus possesses many qualities that allow it to act as a natural remedy. The composition of the mucus consists of a complex matrix with a high content of allantoin and glycolic acid. Allantoin has been shown to increase cell growth, stimulate regeneration of tissues, and rebuild granulation tissue The high glycolic acid content in snail secretions also shows promising effects for skin appearance. Glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that acts as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and effectively reverses sign of aging and photodamage. Thus the healing and regenerative properties of both allantoin and glycolic acid shed light on the potential dermatological uses of snail secretions. Furthermore, in vitro studies found that the secretions from Cryptomphalus aspersa (SCA), commonly known as the “brown garden snail,” contained antioxidant superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities in addition to antimicrobial peptides. SCA is also rich in glycosaminoglycans, which draw water into the skin and maintain skin hydration. By retaining moisture, the skin can maintain elasticity and firmness.
As the regenerative properties of skin decrease with age, greater research has been dedicated to investigating potential products that can minimize cutaneous aging. SCA has been shown to possess promising regenerative properties. When the skin endures external injury, keratinocytes proliferate and lead to new cell-cell adhesions. E-cadherin complexes with β-catenin to maintain integrity of epithelial cell-cell contact.8 Further, cell migration and proliferation is established through signal transduction via phosphorylation of the Tyrosine kinase focal adhesion kinase (FAK). An in vitro study in human keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) found that SCA promotes cell proliferation, migration, survival and phosphorylation of FAK, and nuclear localization of β-catenin. In addition, treatment with SCA was found to increase the expression of different cell adhesion proteins in both human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Impaired wound healing and regeneration can be attributed to increased metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. An in vitro study using dermal fibroblasts treated with different concentrations of SCA found that SCA significantly inhibited both MMP-1 and MMP2 expression, highlighting the regenerative properties of SCA. A product derived from the eggs of C. aspersa, IFC-CAF, also showed the ability to induce differentiation and migration of HaCaT and HDF by promoting the production of extracellular components such as fibronectin and adhesion proteins.
Skin aging can be attributed to both chronological and environmental factors, leading to wrinkles, changes in skin texture, reduced structural integrity and slowed wound healing. Histologically, aging skin can show reduced collagen density and epidermal thinning. There is an additional reduced expression of genes involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix. In addition to their regenerative properties, IFC-CAF and SCA have also been shown to prevent cutaneous aging. An in vitro study of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts treated with IFC-CAF found a decreased expression of aging-related markers b-GaI, p53, and p16INK in senescent dermal fibroblasts. IFC-CAF also enhanced the production of ECM fibronectin and collagen I, which prevents cutaneous aging. UV radiation may induce premature aging via inducing formation of reactive oxygen species and activation of MMPs. After UVB irradiation, IFC-CAF was able to improve cell survival in HaCaT cells. In addition, SCA increased cell survival after irradiation with UVA light. Another study using mouse models found that oral snail mucin improved UVB-induced moisture loss, decreased wrinkle formation, and improved UVB-induced elasticity.
Researchers observed antimicrobial peptides in the mucus of Achatina fulica and C. aspersa depicting antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. This further justifies the addition of snail secretion into over-the-counter cosmeceuticals.
Taken together, the demonstrated skin regenerative properties of mollusks have garnered increased interest in cosmeceutical use of snail-derived products for the treatment of skin aging. For instance, SCA and ICF-CAF have been manufactured into a commercially available topical product under the trade name Endocare (Tensage; Biopelle, Inc, Ferndale, MI, manufactured by Industrial Farmaceutica Cantabria, SA), which is marketed for its skin rejuvenation effects.
The purpose of this review is to investigate the clinical efficacy of snail-derived products on skin health. This review explores the protective effects on skin of snail secretions and egg extracts in human trials.
A PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane search for articles with the following keywords was performed: (Snail mucin OR Snail secretion OR Snail secretions OR Snail mucus OR Cryptomphalus aspersa OR Achatina fulica) AND (Skin OR Dermatolog* OR Cutaneous). Results were filtered to include clinical trials with human subjects. Sixty-three PubMed, 68 Embase, and 12 Cochrane articles resulted. Fifty-four articles were excluded due to repeats and 75 articles were removed based on title and/or abstract screening. Articles were excluded if they were written in a non-English language, conducted in vitro or on animal models, or if they were a review. Fifteen full texts were reviewed by three reviewers. One additional report was included via handsearching. Articles were included if they discussed the application of snail-based products in human trials. In total, 10 clinical studies were included in the review, one of which was detailed in a conference abstract.
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