Active Peptides Derived from Snail Mucus Promoted Wound Healing by Enhancing Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis

Snail mucus has shown promise in promoting wound healing; however, its active components and their mechanisms of action are poorly understood. In the present study snail mucus was isolated and hydrolyzed using trypsin to obtain snail mucus active peptides (SMAPs). SMAPs were analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics screening. Among the screened peptides, an active 12-amino-acid peptide, EK-12 (molecular weight: 1366.2 Da), was identified and synthesized using a solid-phase peptide synthesis approach. In vitro functional verification showed that EK-12 significantly promoted endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. An in vivo experiment demonstrated that EK-12 significantly accelerated wound healing in mouse models. Pathological examination revealed a significantly upregulated expression of CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factors in wound tissues, suggesting that this is the mechanism by which the active peptide promotes angiogenesis and wound healing. Thus, snail mucus-derived peptides hold strong potential for development as therapeutic agents for wound healing.