Anti-tumour Activity of Bioactive Compounds Isolated from the Hemolymph and Mucus of the Garden Snail Helix aspersa against a Panel of Human Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Cancer remains a significant global health concern, necessitating the search for new effective and safe anti-cancer agents. Natural products derived from plants and animals, including mollusks like snails, have gained attention as potential sources of novel anti-cancer compounds. Haemocyanins (Hcs), large copper-containing glycoproteins involved in oxygen transport in mollusks, have shown promise as anti-cancer agents. This study focuses on evaluating the in vitro anti-tumour efficacy of bioactive substances obtained from the hemolymph of the garden snail Helix aspersa on various human cancer cell lines representing different types of cancer. The results demonstrate that certain hemocyanin subunits from H. aspersa exhibit cytotoxic activity comparable to cisplatin, a widely used chemotherapy drug. Additional assays confirm the cytotoxic effects of the tested substances on cancer cells. The study underscores the potential of natural compounds from H. aspersa as alternative therapeutic agents for cancer treatment, while highlighting the need for further investigation. The identification of specific proteins responsible for the observed anti-proliferative effects in the mucus of H. aspersa provides insights for the development of novel cancer therapies.