TITLE: Evaluation of Bioactive Constituents and Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antioxidant Activities

of Balingkokok Snail Mucin Extract

BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Snails have been widely used as a treatment for various medical conditions such as skin
and gastrointestinal ulcers, skin inflammation, dermatitis, acne, calluses, scarring, wrinkles, warts
and cough. It has also been now popularly used as a component of skin products for its anti-ageing
effects. Studies showed that snail slime contains mucin, a glycoprotein which has antibacterial
activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and has stimulatory functions in
the immune system.1
A study analyzing the antibacterial and antifungal effects of snail proteins was conducted
in Korea and excellent results were gathered.2 Local species variety of snails in the Philippines were
yet to be evaluated. Balingkokok, a species of forest snail, is a terrestrial gastropod mollusk that
has a traditional medicinal value in the indigenous communities of Panay Island such as using it to
fight off stress, as well being consumed as a food by some locals.3

GENERAL OBJECTIVE: To provide scientific basis on the traditional medicinal claims of snail from a
local variety.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

 To assess the antibacterial activity of Balingkokok slime mucin extract against

Staphylococcus aereus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae,
Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli by agar well diffusion method and Minimum
Inhibitory Concentration,
 To assess the antifungal activity of Balingkokok slime mucin extract against Candida
albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus niger using agar well diffusion method and
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,
 To assess the antioxidant activity of Balingkokok slime extract using DPPH radical
scavenging method, and
 To identify the bioactive compounds of Balingkokok slime mucin extract using ***Gas
Chromatography- Mass Spectrophotometry***.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY:
The findings of this study will help to assess the efficacy of snail from a local variety as a
medicinal alternative based on its traditional claims, as well as to provide better understanding of
the scientific basis on the traditional medicinal uses of the snail. The data that will be obtained in
the study will contribute to the body of knowledge that could be of help to scientists and
researchers in quest of natural sources as treatments for various illness and diseases.

REFERENCES:
1. Thomas, S. (2015). Medicinal use of terrestrial molluscs (slugs and snails) with particular
reference to their role in the treatment of wounds and other skin lesions. World Wide
Wounds. http://www. worldwidewounds. com/2013/July/Thomas/slug-steve-thomas.
html. Accessed July.
2. Ulagesan, S., & Kim, H. (2018). Antibacterial and antifungal activities of proteins extracted
from seven different snails. Applied Sciences, 8(8), 1362.
3. Press Release - Keynote Address of Senator Loren Legarda. (2018). Retrieved from
http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2018/0809_legarda4.asp?fbclid=IwAR0SqRhwy
PYQv7Q93yrR4n6YuYosbFCpwNG0ygU6j8SoT7KmfVuVYwmmMTY