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Cited by 30Mollusks and Parasites StudiesWound Healing and TreatmentsSilk-based biomaterials and applications

Snail mucus as an innovative ingredient used in the cosmetology and medical industry

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Student Scientific Association of Biologists - Biocosmetology Section, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Wargala, Eliza, Zalewska, Agnieszka, Student Scientific Association of Biologists - Biocosmetology Section, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Sławska, Martyna, Student Scientific Association of Biologists - Biocosmetology Section, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Kot, Izabela, Sub-department of Entomology, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, University of Life Sciences in Lublin·2023·Aesthetic Cosmetology and Medicine
DOI 10.52336/acm.2023.001
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Abstract

Snail slime is obtained from Helix aspersa Müller and H. aspersa var. maxima. Two types of mucus are obtained: lymosine and cryptosine, the one used in medicine and cosmetology. The work aimed to present the method of obtaining snail slime, to analyze its qualitative and quantitative composition and properties based on literature data. This raw material, in addition to antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer properties, also has antioxidant, regenerative, stimulating, moisturizing, nourishing, cleansing, anti-wrinkle and sunscreen properties. This gives the opportunity to widely use mucus in the cosmetic and medical industries.

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  • SSF has well-documented wound healing effectiveness and anti-inflammatory actions.

    “Beyond cosmetics, SSF’s well-documented wound healing effectiveness and anti-inflammatory actions extend its use to medical-grade products like wound dressings, ointments, and therapeutic gels [5].”

    From Hidden benefits of snail mucus: A natural skincare marvel (2024) · cites this paper as [5]

    The SNAIL MUCUS IN MEDICINE and SUMMARY sections say snail mucus aids wound healing and is used in wound-healing agents. SNAIL MUCUS IN COSMETOLOGY reports anti-inflammatory effects, but the paper does not establish that these effects are well documented specifically for snail secretion filtrate (SSF). It also does not identify wound dressings, ointments, and therapeutic gels as medical-grade SSF products; the medicine section says its medical use remains under study. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • SSF's wound healing and anti-inflammatory actions extend its use to medical-grade products like wound dressings, ointments, and therapeutic gels.

    “Beyond cosmetics, SSF’s well-documented wound healing effectiveness and anti-inflammatory actions extend its use to medical-grade products like wound dressings, ointments, and therapeutic gels [5].”

    From Hidden benefits of snail mucus: A natural skincare marvel (2024) · cites this paper as [5]

    The ‘Snail Mucus in Medicine’ section says snail mucus is used in wound-healing agents and surgical adhesives, while ‘Snail Mucus in Cosmetology’ reports anti-inflammatory effects. The paper does not establish use in medical-grade wound dressings or ointments; its reference list mentions a wound-healing gel, but the medicine section cautions that medical uses remain under study. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Advances in sustainable and ethical agricultural methods help promote SSF's dual appeal, improving its economic viability.

    “Advances in sustainable and ethical agricultural methods help promote SSF’s dual appeal, improving its economic viability [5].”

    From Hidden benefits of snail mucus: A natural skincare marvel (2024) · cites this paper as [5]

    The SNAIL MUCUS EXTRACTION section describes a modern method as harmless to snails and says it permits repeated extraction. The Abstract describes uses in both cosmetics and medicine. Neither passage says these methods improve the economic viability of snail secretion filtrate (SSF), so that part of the claim is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    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 [28]

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Cosmetic products containing snail mucus are being developed to decrease stretch marks, acne, and pigment spots; soothe and moisturize the skin; eliminate signs of photoaging and reduce damage caused by free radicals; fight age-related skin changes; and recover gray hair color.

    “Cosmetic products in different forms containing snail mucus (ampoules, creams, serums, etc.) are being developed that are designed to decrease stretch marks, acne, and pigment spots; to soothe and moisturize the skin; to eliminate signs of photoaging and reduce damage caused by free radicals; to fight age-related skin changes; to recover gray hair color; 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 [28]

    The “Snail Mucus in Cosmetology” section (page not available) describes snail-mucus products and supports the claimed uses for acne, stretch marks, soothing, moisturizing, photoaging, free-radical damage, and skin ageing. The review also says the mucus reduces skin discoloration, which broadly supports the pigment-spots claim. Our copy does not support the claim that these products recover gray hair color. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Student Scientific Association of Biologists - Biocosmetology Section, F. O. E. B., Wargala, E., Zalewska, A., Student Scientific Association of Biologists - Biocosmetology Section, F. O. E. B., Sławska, M., Student Scientific Association of Biologists - Biocosmetology Section, F. O. E. B., Kot, I., & Sub-department of Entomology, D. O. P. P.
Affiliations
University of Life Sciences in Lublin (PL)
ORCID
Venue
Aesthetic Cosmetology and Medicine
Publisher
Indygo Zahir Media
Published
2023-04
Volume
12
Issue
2
Pages
45-49
ISSN
2719-3241 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.52336/acm.2023.001
OpenAlex
W4368341469
Cited by
30
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 1
FWCI
5.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
Aesthetic Cosmetology and Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Mollusks and Parasites Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Wound Healing and Treatments
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Silk-based biomaterials and applications
Keywords
snail mucus, Helix aspersa, cosmetic ingredients, antibacterial properties, antifungal activity, antioxidant activity, regenerative properties

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