Antifungal Activity of Soft Tissue Extract from the Garden Snail Helix aspersa (Gastropoda, Mollusca)

Abstract

Gastropods comprise approximately 80% of molluscans, of which land snails are used variably as food and traditional medicines due to their high protein content. Moreover, different components from land snails exhibit antimicrobial activities. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of soft tissue extracts from Helix aspersa against Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis by identifying extract components using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Two concentrations of three extracts (methanol, acetone, and acetic acid) showed antifungal activity. Both acetone (1 g/3 mL) and acetic acid extracts (1 g/mL) significantly inhibited C.albicans growth (p = 0.0001, 5.2 ± 0.2 mm and p = 0.02, 69.7 ± 0.6 mm, respectively). A. flavus and A. brasiliensis growth were inhibited by all extracts at 1 g/mL, while inhibition was observed for acetic acid extracts against A. brasiliensis (p = 0.02, 50.3 ± 3.5 mm). The highest growth inhibition was observed for A. flavus using acetic acid and acetone extracts (inhibition zones = 38 ± 1.7 mm and 3.1 ± 0.7 mm, respectively). LC-MS-MS studies on methanol and acetone extracts identified 11-α-acetoxyprogesterone with a parent mass of 372.50800 m/z and 287.43500 m/z for luteolin. Methanol extracts contained hesperidin with a parent mass of 611.25400 m/z, whereas linoleic acid and genistein (parent mass = 280.4 and 271.48900 m/z, respectively) were the main metabolites.

Gastropod Mucus: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biological Activities, Applications, and Strategic Priorities

“…54 Bioactive compounds extracted from H. aspersa soft tissue demonstrated strong antifungal effects against C. albicans, Aspergillus f lavus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. 55 Liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry identified metabolites, including flavonoids, fatty acids, and steroids, as antifungal agents within the snail extracts.…”

“…Further chemical analyses identified antimicrobial metabolites, including glycosaminoglycans, achasin, acharan sulfate, and beta-agglutinin, exhibiting potent antibacterial effects against Enterococcus foecalis , one of the bacteria responsible for causing periodontitis . Bioactive compounds extracted from H. aspersa soft tissue demonstrated strong antifungal effects against C. albicans , Aspergillus flavus , and Aspergillus brasiliensis . Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry identified metabolites, including flavonoids, fatty acids, and steroids, as antifungal agents within the snail extracts.…”

Antifungal Agents in Wood Protection—A Review

“…Gallerimycin, isolated from the greater wax moth larvae Galleria mellonella, exhibited activity against A. niger , while ant-derived actinobacterial isolates showed an inhibitory capability against R. solani or Alternaria solani [ 146 , 148 ]. Hoda et al [ 149 ] reported the activity of extracts (methanolic, acetic acid, and acetone) from the snail Helix aspersa against A. flavus and Aspergillus brasiliensis in a concentration-dependent manner. Chromatographic analysis of these extracts showed that they contained phenolic compounds with antimicrobial properties including hesperidin, genistein, and luteolin, which are characterized by a wide antimicrobial potential [ 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 ].…”

“…Hoda et al [ 149 ] reported the activity of extracts (methanolic, acetic acid, and acetone) from the snail Helix aspersa against A. flavus and Aspergillus brasiliensis in a concentration-dependent manner. Chromatographic analysis of these extracts showed that they contained phenolic compounds with antimicrobial properties including hesperidin, genistein, and luteolin, which are characterized by a wide antimicrobial potential [ 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 ]. The research described by Ulagesan and Kim [ 20 ] indicated that of the seven different snail proteins, the snail Cryptozona bistrialis proteins exhibited the most effective activity against A. fumigatus and P. chrysogenum .…”

The obesogenic side of Genistein

“…GN supplements are on the market particularly in Asia due to their health promoting effects. Evidence is piling up that GN has anti-inflammatory ( 6 ), anticancer ( 7 , 8 ), anti-diabetic ( 9 ), anti-hyperlipidemic ( 10 ), antiviral ( 8 , 11 ), antimicrobial ( 12 ), antifungal ( 13 ), cardioprotective ( 2 , 14 ), nephroprotective ( 15 ), antioxidant ( 16 , 17 ), and anti-obesity ( 18 ) properties among others. Surprisingly, recent studies revealed that GN is a potential endocrine disruptor (ED) that interferes with estrogen receptors (ERs) hence interfering with the endocrinology system ( 19 , 20 ).…”