From traditional remedy to modern Therapeutics: Unveiling the anti-photoaging potential of Wuguchong (Chrysomyia megacephala) peptides

Abstract

Wuguchong is a high-quality insect protein source. Its enzymatic hydrolysis products have been proven to have the potential to improve skin photoaging problems. However, the existing preparation techniques are unable to produce such active peptides efficiently and directionally. Furthermore, the relationship between their molecular structures and the anti-photoaging effect remains unclear. This study employed both sequential and simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis methods, using endopeptidases (alkaline proteinase, trypsin, papain, and neutral protease) and exopeptidases (flavourzyme) to prepare six different enzymatic hydrolysates of Wuguchong (WGC-Pep). The anti-photoaging activity of WGC-Pep was evaluated through cell migration ability, oxidative stress alleviation, and collagen content maintenance. The results showed that the simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis method significantly increased the peptide yield (up to 57.02 (g/100 g defatted powder)). However, the sequential enzymatic hydrolysis method (alkaline proteinase → trypsin → flavourzyme) produced WGC-Pep with better effects in promoting cell migration, inhibiting ROS production, and suppressing MMP1/3/9 expression. Moreover, the C-terminal and N-terminal of its peptide chains were rich in hydrophobic and charged amino acids, respectively, greatly enhancing its anti-photoaging activity. This study proposed a hydrolysis sequence-peptide structure-functional effect association mechanism for WGC-Pep, and provided a theoretical basis for accurately obtaining WGC-Pep with specific functional activities. By enhancing the biological activity of Wuguchong and its hydrolysates through enzymatic techniques, this research expanded their application in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.