The enzymatic hydrolysates of Andrias davidianus mucus alleviates UVA-induced photoaging in the HSF cell and mouse skin

Photoaging is the premature aging of skin caused by long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The skin mucus of Andrias davidianus has anti-photoaging activity, but its active ingredients and  mechanisms are not clear. In this study, we first investigated the photoprotective effect of enzymatic hydrolysates from Andrias davidianus mucus (AD-APRO) on UVA-irradiated responses in human skin fibroblasts (HSF) cells and mice. AD-APRO hindered the UVA induced activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased the activity of antioxidase in HSF cells. Furthermore, topical application of AD-APRO ameliorated skin photoaging in a mouse model by suppressing oxidative stress. CAMP and Peptide Ranker, two online tools, were used to predict the active peptides of AD-APRO against photoaging. The active peptides of AD-APRO were predicted to be KDACCNLVLHFNPRF, NLVLHFNPRF, FEWKP, and CNLVLHFNPRF. These results provide a basis for the study of the photoprotective effect of AD-APRO and suggest that it can be potentially used as an agent against UVA-induced skin photoaging in humans.