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Snail mucin is the secretion produced by various species of snails, and it has recently gained attention for its potential benefits in skincare and cosmetic applications. Emerging studies indicate that its unique composition provides intense hydration and skin regeneration and positively influences the skin's microbiome, which is the delicate ecosystem of microorganisms on the skin's surface.
What we know:
Snail mucin is a complex mixture of proteins, glycoproteins, and other bioactive compounds such as allantoin, glycolic acid, and antibacterial peptides, providing benefits such as moisturizing, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory effects (Zhu et al., 2024).
Snail mucin contains natural antimicrobial peptides that selectively inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria while promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, thereby maintaining a balanced skin microbiome (McDermott et al., 2021).
Researchers have found that snail mucin demonstrates antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus known to cause infections (Aflatooni et al., 2023).
Snail mucin is abundant in hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid, which improve skin hydration and barrier function (Yongeun et al., 2022). A healthy skin barrier is essential for maintaining a stable microbiome, as it protects against external pathogens and prevents moisture loss.
In-vitro studies had shown that Snail mucin had significantly improved the dermal density, skin elasticity, and wrinkles (Singh et al., 2024).
Cryptomphalus Aspersa snail mucin boosts keratinocytes and fibroblasts proliferation, migration, and adhesion protein expression, potentially aiding scar healing, and thereby promoting a stable microbiome environment (Singh et at., 2024).
Industry impact & potential:
The growing demand for snail mucin products and the need for research into its potential uses are driving an expanding economic market.
The increasing demand for snail mucin creates pressure on collection methods, highlighting the critical need for ethical habitats for their collection (Singh et al., 2024).
As snail mucin is an animal-derived product it can lead to sustainability concerns. Therefore, more sustainable alternatives are much needed, such as synthetic or lab-grown mucin.
Our solution:
Sequential, specializes in skin health solutions, features a state-of-the-art testing facility where we analyze the skin microbiome. We use advanced technology to test various skincare ingredients to better understand its impact on the skin microbiome. By conducting these tests, we aim to provide insights into the efficacy and sustainability of ingredients in skincare products.
Reference:
Aflatooni S, Boby A, Natarelli N, Albers S. Snails and Skin: A Systematic Review on the
Effects of Snail-based Products on Skin Health. Journal of Integrative Dermatology. Published online October 31, 2023.
McDermott M, Cerullo AR, Parziale J, Achrak E, Sultana S, Ferd J, Samad S, Deng W,
Braunschweig AB, Holford M. Advancing Discovery of Snail Mucins Function and Application. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2021 Oct 11;9:734023. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.734023. PMID: 34708024; PMCID: PMC8542881.
Singh N, Brown AN, Gold MH. Snail extract for skin: A review of uses, projections, and
limitations. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024; 23: 1113-1121. doi:10.1111/jocd.16269
Yongeun Kim, Woo-Jin Sim, Jeong-seok Lee, Tae-Gyu Lim, Snail mucin is a functional food
ingredient for skin, Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 92, 2022, 105053, ISSN 1756-4646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2022.105053.
Zhu K, Zhang Z, Li G, Sun J, Gu T, Ain NU, Zhang X, Li D. Extraction, structure,
pharmacological activities and applications of polysaccharides and proteins isolated from snail mucus. Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Feb;258(Pt 1):128878. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128878. Epub 2023 Dec 21. PMID: 38141709.
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