Extraction, characterization, and vascular response of proteins from catfish (Clarias batrachus L.) mucus

Abstract

The mucus of fish is its first line of defense to the surrounding environment and has been found to possess a range of bioactivities. This study was conducted to extract, characterize, and evaluate the vascular response of mucus from catfish (Clarias batrachus L.) against an irritant. The fish mucus was extracted through acidic and aqueous extraction methods yielding 0.585±0.00675 mg/mL protein in the acidic extract while the aqueous extract contained 1.18±0.0106 mg/mL. The extracts also analyzed through FT-IR spectroscopy showed characteristic bands of Amide A at 3225 to 3280 cm−1, Amide I at around 1600 and 1700 cm−1, and Amide II from 1510 to 1580 cm−1. The crude protein extracts also showed vascular response using CAM assay, with the aqueous extracts having higher activity, 82.05%±8.882 irritating inhibition than the acidic extract, 48.72%±8.882 irritating inhibition. This study suggests that the mucus of catfish could potentially be a novel anti-irritant agent and could be administered in drug application.