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Cited by 51Mollusks and Parasites StudiesMarine Biology and Environmental ChemistryAntimicrobial Peptides and Activities

Biological activities of gastropods secretions: snail and slug slime

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Rashad, Muhammad, Sampò, Simone, Cataldi, Amelia, Zara, Susi·2023·Natural Products and Bioprospecting
DOI 10.1007/s13659-023-00404-0PMC PMC10593653
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Abstract

Gastropods, a mollusk class including slugs and snails, represent an extraordinarily diverse and ecologically significant group of organisms featuring the largest class of invertebrates. They can be classified as aquatic and terrestrial animals having coiled shells, although some species have reduced or absent shells. Their unique body structure includes a muscular foot for locomotion, a visceral mass containing essential organs, and a distinct head region with sensory organs such as tentacles and eyes. They are used to secrete a complex mixture of glycoproteins, enzymes, peptides, mucus and other bioactive compounds, namely slime, which represents a tool to allow locomotion, protection, and interaction within different habitats. The biological activities of the slime have attracted considerable interest due to their diverse and potentially valuable properties ranging from defense mechanisms to potential therapeutic applications in wound healing, antimicrobial therapy, management of inflammation, and neurological disorders. This review aims at exploring the beneficial effects of snail and slug slime focusing, in particular, on the improvement of the biological processes underlying them. Continued exploration of the intricate components of these slimy secretions promises to discover new bioactive molecules with diverse applications in various scientific and industrial fields. Graphical Abstract

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Crossref · 10.1007/s13659-023-00404-0

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  • Commercial SSF products offer synergistic therapeutic effects, including cell signaling, tissue growth, tissue repair, wound healing, hydration, anti-aging properties, and exfoliation.

    “These products offer synergistic therapeutic effects, including cell signaling, tissue growth, tissue repair, wound healing, hydration, anti-aging properties, and exfoliation [2].”

    From Hidden benefits of snail mucus: A natural skincare marvel (2024) · cites this paper as [2]

    The Skin regeneration and anti-aging properties and Wound healing properties sections describe potential hydration, anti-aging, tissue-regeneration, and wound-healing effects of snail or slug slime, and note its use in skincare products. They do not establish that commercial SSF products deliver synergistic therapeutic effects, and they do not specifically support exfoliation. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Commercial SSF products have scientifically proven performance as a promising dermatological treatment.

    “The beauty and pharmaceutical industries popularize commercial SSF products due to their natural composition and scientifically proven performance as a promising dermatological treatment.”

    From Hidden benefits of snail mucus: A natural skincare marvel (2024) · cites this paper as [2]

    The Skin regeneration and anti-aging properties section says snail secretions are used in skincare products and reports evidence for skin-related effects. The Conclusions say studies have confirmed beneficial effects of gastropod slime. However, the paper does not establish scientifically proven dermatological performance for commercial SSF products specifically; it describes some skincare benefits as potential and says further investigation is required. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of C. aspersum mucus depend on snails' housing conditions, the season, the diet, the collection method, the species of snail, the methods of mucus preservation, and the type of secretory glands and tissue structures.

    “Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of mucus depend on snails’ housing conditions, the season, the diet, the collection method, the species of snail, the methods of mucus preservation (freezing, sublimation, etc.), the type of secretory glands and tissue structures, etc.”

    From Chemical Variability and Biological Potential of Cornu aspersum Mucus as a Source for the Development of New Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Products (2025) · cites this paper as [17]

    The Introduction describes different mucus constituents in different gastropod species, supporting the species-related part of the claim. The “Snail and slug slime extraction methods” section describes different collection methods, but does not say they change mucus characteristics. Our copy does not establish the claimed effects of housing, season, diet, preservation, or gland and tissue type; no page numbers were provided. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Snail mucus is among ingredients obtained without causing suffering or harm to snails using the non-lethal Muller method or electrical stimulation at low voltage, so there are no ethical concerns with industrial manufacture using these methods.

    “Despite what has just been said concerning the classification, snail mucus is among the ingredients obtained without causing suffering or harm to snails using the non-lethal Muller method (acid stimulation) or electrical stimulation at low voltage; therefore, there are no ethical concerns with the industrial manufacture of snail mucus using these methods [17,24,28].”

    From Chemical Variability and Biological Potential of Cornu aspersum Mucus as a Source for the Development of New Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Products (2025) · cites this paper as [17]

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  • Lethal methods such as crushing whole snails, solvent extraction, mechanical stimulation, or centrifugation raise large ethical concerns.

    “Unfortunately, there are some lethal methods, such as crushing whole snails, using solvent extraction, mechanical stimulation, or centrifugation, which raise large ethical concerns [17].”

    From Chemical Variability and Biological Potential of Cornu aspersum Mucus as a Source for the Development of New Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Products (2025) · cites this paper as [17]

    The “Snail and slug slime extraction methods” section reports that crushing whole snails and mechanically removing their shells killed the animals, and it frames preserving their lives as an animal-ethics concern (page unavailable). It does not identify solvent extraction, mechanical stimulation, or centrifugation as lethal methods. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Rashad, M., Sampò, S., Cataldi, A., & Zara, S.
Affiliations
University of Chieti-Pescara (IT)
Corresponding author
Zara, Susi
ORCID
Venue
Natural Products and Bioprospecting
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2023-10-23
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
42-42
ISSN
  • 2192-2195 (ISSN-L)
  • 2192-2209
DOI
10.1007/s13659-023-00404-0
PMC
PMC10593653
OpenAlex
W4387866218
Cited by
51
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 8
FWCI
1.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Natural Products and Bioprospecting (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio Chieti - Pescara (FAR 2020 FAR 2021)
  • Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (PNRR)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Mollusks and Parasites Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
Keywords
snail slime, mucus secretion, bioactive compounds, wound healing, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, neurological disorders, defense mechanisms, glycoproteins, peptides

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