SNAIL MUCIN: A NOVEL BIOACTIVE INGREDIENT IN PHARMACEUTICALS – A REVIEW

Snail mucin is popular for its wide range of ingredients and potential benefits. Snail extract’s widespread appearance in different pharmaceutical formulations encourages an investigation into the medical and cosmetic benefits. Its main aims to explain current literature on the variety of snail mucin applications. Typically, we present a review of the uses, global market scenario and research, and limitations to snail mucin. A literature search was conducted on different journals reviewing snail mucin and their application in medical and cosmetic fields examining their uses. Economic reports were also found out for global market scenario. The therapeutic use of snail mucin in medical fields was studied as antimicrobial agents, drug delivery vehicles, antitumor agents, wound healing agents, and biomaterial coatings among others. In addition, the use in cosmetic fields includes antiaging, hydrating, antiacne, scarring, and hyperpigmentation treatments. It is important to highlight that most studies conducted were preclinical or small clinical studies, stressing the need for additional large-scale clinical trials to support these claims. Investigations into the global market found estimates ranging from $457 million to $1.2 billion with upward projections in the upcoming decade. The limitations include ethical habitats for collection, allergy investigation, and missing clinical studies. The findings presented here emphasize the expanding uses of snail mucin and its ingredients alongside a growing market cosmetic industry should consider. We also emphasize the need for appropriate clinical trials into the stated benefits of snail mucin to ensure consumer safety and ethical extraction of mucin.