Synergistic healing: harnessing snail mucus enriched with carob extract for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapy in ulcerative colitis.

IF 3.3 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture Pub Date : 2025-04-26 DOI:10.1002/jsfa.14305

Khaoula Gharbi, Slimen Selmi, Soumaya Wahabi, Ala Ayari, Karima Tlili, Stefano D'allacqua, Hichem Sebai

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis, are characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. This study explores the therapeutic potential of snail mucus derived from snails fed different concentrations of carob (SSCS) and compares its efficacy to aqueous carob extracts (AECS). Both SSCS and AECS are rich in bioactive compounds with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tissue-regenerative effects.

Results: Snail mucus was found to be rich in collagen and allantoin, which are crucial for tissue repair and cell regeneration, whereas carob extracts contained high levels of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids, contributing to their antioxidant properties. In a rat model of acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis, pretreatment with SSCS, AECS or sulfasalazine significantly alleviated colonic damage. The SSCS30% group exhibited the strongest protective effects, comparable to sulfasalazine, in reducing mucosal injury, inflammation and immune activation. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that SSCS30% effectively decreased systemic inflammation markers (CRP), pancreatic stress indicators (amylase) and liver enzyme levels (AST, ALT, ALP), while enhancing antioxidant defenses and preserving colonic sulfhydryl content.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of snail mucus, particularly from snails fed a 30% carob-enriched diet, as a promising natural therapy for IBD. Its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tissue-regenerative properties suggest that the use of SSCS30% could serve as an innovative approach for managing ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory disorders. These findings suggest that carob-enriched snail mucus could serve as a complementary therapy for ulcerative colitis patients, though clinical validation remains necessary. While these preclinical results are promising, further clinical studies are needed to validate the therapeutic potential of this natural combination in human ulcerative colitis. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

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协同愈合：利用富含角豆提取物的蜗牛粘液进行溃疡性结肠炎的抗炎和抗氧化治疗。

背景：炎症性肠病（IBD），包括溃疡性结肠炎，以慢性炎症和氧化应激为特征，需要新的治疗方法。本研究探讨了喂食不同浓度角豆豆（SSCS）的蜗牛黏液的治疗潜力，并将其与角豆水提取物（AECS）的疗效进行了比较。SSCS和AECS都含有丰富的生物活性化合物，具有潜在的抗炎、抗氧化和组织再生作用。结果：蜗牛粘液富含胶原蛋白和尿囊素，这对组织修复和细胞再生至关重要，而角豆提取物含有高水平的酚类物质、单宁和类黄酮，有助于它们的抗氧化特性。在醋酸致溃疡性结肠炎大鼠模型中，SSCS、AECS或柳氮磺胺吡啶预处理可显著减轻结肠损伤。SSCS30%组在减轻粘膜损伤、炎症和免疫激活方面表现出最强的保护作用，与柳氮磺胺吡啶相当。生化分析表明，SSCS30%能有效降低全身炎症标志物（CRP）、胰腺应激指标（淀粉酶）和肝脏酶（AST、ALT、ALP）水平，同时增强抗氧化防御能力，保持结肠巯基含量。结论：这些发现强调了蜗牛粘液的治疗潜力，特别是来自于喂食富含30%碳水化合物饮食的蜗牛的粘液，作为一种有希望的IBD天然疗法。其有效的抗炎、抗氧化和组织再生特性表明，使用SSCS30%可以作为治疗溃疡性结肠炎和其他炎症性疾病的创新方法。这些发现表明富含角豆的蜗牛粘液可以作为溃疡性结肠炎患者的补充疗法，尽管临床验证仍是必要的。虽然这些临床前结果很有希望，但需要进一步的临床研究来验证这种天然组合在人类溃疡性结肠炎中的治疗潜力。©2025化学工业协会。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 工程技术-农业综合

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

4.90%

发文量

634

审稿时长

3.1 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture publishes peer-reviewed original research, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives and spotlights in these areas, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies at the agriculture/ food interface. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. Anyone can join and current Members include consumers, business people, environmentalists, industrialists, farmers, and researchers. The Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials, chemicals, environmental science and safety. As well as organising educational events, SCI awards a number of prestigious honours and scholarships each year, publishes peer-reviewed journals, and provides Members with news from their sectors in the respected magazine, Chemistry & Industry . Originally established in London in 1881 and in New York in 1894, SCI is a registered charity with Members in over 70 countries.