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Cited by 57Mollusks and Parasites StudiesAntimicrobial Peptides and ActivitiesVenomous Animal Envenomation and Studies

Snail mucus from the mantle and foot of two land snails, Lissachatina fulica and Hemiplecta distincta, exhibits different protein profile and biological activity

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Noothuan, Nattaphop, Apitanyasai, Kantamas, Panha, Somsak, Tassanakajon, Anchalee·2021·BMC Research Notes
DOI 10.1186/s13104-021-05557-0PMC PMC8050916

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Abstract

Objective: Snails secrete different types of mucus that serve several functions, and are increasingly being exploited for medical and cosmetic applications. In this study, we explored the protein pattern and compared the biological properties of the mucus secreted from the mantle collar and foot of two snail species, Lissachatina fulica and Hemiplecta distincta . Result: Protein profile showed a different pattern between the two species and between the two secretory parts. The mantle-specific protein bands were further characterized and among them was an antibacterial protein, achacin. Accordingly, the mucus from the mantle exhibited the higher antibacterial activity than that from the foot in both snail species. The mucus from H. distincta , first reported here, also showed antibacterial properties, but with a lower activity compared to that for L. fulica . Snail mucus also exhibited anti-tyrosinase activity and antioxidant activity but with no significant difference between the foot and mantle mucus. These results indicate some different protein compositions and biological activities of snail slime from the mantle and foot, which might be associated with their specific functions in the animal and are useful for medical applications.

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  • 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 [23]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports different mucus protein patterns between the foot and mantle and between the two species studied, supporting variation by anatomical source and species. The paper does not establish that mucus characteristics depend on housing, season, diet, collection method, or preservation method; its Sample preparation section describes one procedure rather than comparing those factors. It also does not study C. aspersum mucus directly. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Noothuan, N., Apitanyasai, K., Panha, S., & Tassanakajon, A.
Affiliations
Chulalongkorn University (TH)
Corresponding author
Tassanakajon, Anchalee
ORCID
Venue
BMC Research Notes
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-04-15
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
138-138
ISSN
1756-0500 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s13104-021-05557-0
PMC
PMC8050916
OpenAlex
W3155581878
Cited by
57
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 1
FWCI
5.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Research Notes (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Thailand Research Fund (TRF-DPG628001)
  • Center of Excellence on Biodiversity (BDC-PG1-159005)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Mollusks and Parasites Studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
Keywords
snail mucus, Achatina fulica, antibacterial activity, tyrosinase inhibition, antioxidant activity, land snails, cosmetic applications
MeSH terms
Animals, Anti-Infective Agents, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Mucus

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