Snail Slime: Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties
N. C. Chinaka *
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
L. C. Chuku
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
G. George
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Nigeria.
C. Oraezu
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Nigeria.
G. Umahi
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
O. F. Orinya
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Snails posses numerous nutritional, medicinal and therapeutic properties, making it an essential component of human nutrition, medicinal and skin health. This study is aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of snail slime obtained from giant African land snail (Achatina fulica). The slime was extracted by low heat method and anti-inflammatory properties was ascertained by inducing paw edema in day old chicks using carrageenan, the phytochemical screening was conducted to ascertain the level of phenols and flavonoids, while the antioxidant properties was determined by DPPH radical scavenging activity, using ascorbic acid as standard. Statistical analysis using ANOVA version 20.0 was conducted to analyze the data obtained from the study. Post study statistics of data (mean ± SD) indicates that the snail slime extract potentially posses anti-inflammatory, relative phytochemical and antioxidant properties at significant (p≤0.05) level, hence validating its use in nutrition, medicinal and cosmetic purposes, and preparations.
Keywords: Snail slime, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, Carrageenan, Achatina fulica