Snakehead Consumption Enhances Wound Healing? From Tradition to Modern Clinical Practice: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Characterization, Expression, and Functional Analysis of the Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) Hepcidin

Hepcidin, an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), is a well-conserved molecule present in various species such as fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals. It exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and holds a significant role in the innate immune system of host organisms. The northern snakehead (Channa argus) has become a valuable freshwater fish in China and Asia. In this investigation, the cDNA encoding the hepcidin gene of northern snakehead was cloned and named caHep. The amino acid sequences and protein structure of caHep are similar to those of hepcidins from other fish. The eukaryotic expression product of the caHep gene showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Scanning electron microscope analysis indicated that the caHep peptide inhibited bacterial growth by damaging their cell membranes. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection induced significant expression of caHep, implying the involvement of caHep in the innate immune response of northern snakeheads. This investigation showed that the caHep peptide is potentially a robust antibacterial drug against bacterial diseases in aquaculture animals.

Comparative Study of the Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Ability of Soups Made from Wild and Farmed Snakehead Fish (Channa Argus)

In recent years, fish soup has become an important product for commercial processing of fish due to its health effects. In this study, nutritional composition and antioxidant ability of soups prepared from farmed and wild snakehead fish were analyzed (hereafter FS and WS soup, respectively). For the FS soup, the proximate composition of protein, fat, ash, free amino acids, and soluble peptides were 2.55%, 0.89%, 0.92%, 0.47%, and 0.62%, respectively. The total amino acid was 390.11 mg/ g, and the proportion of essential amino acid was 27.59%. The total fatty acid was 13.64 g/100 g, of which monounsaturated fatty acid was 5.78 g/100 g, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid 3.50 g/100 g, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid 0.41 g/100 g, respectively. The contents of Zn and Ca were 9.04 mg/ kg and 1.13 mg/ g, respectively. The DPPH radical-scavenging ability, Fe²⁺ chelating ability, and hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability was 57.89%, 21.21%, and 25.61%, respectively. Overall, there was no obvious difference in the nutritional composition and antioxidant activity between the FS and WS soups. The protein content (1.90%) of the WS soup was relatively lower, but the total fatty acid (16.22 g/100 g), MUFA (7.17 g/100 g), and Zn (12.57 mg/ kg) contents were significantly higher.

A critical review on the health benefits of fish consumption and its bioactive constituents

As one of food sources, fish provides sufficient nutrition to human. Diverse nutrients in fish make fish an important nutrient source available easily across the globe. Fish is proven to possess several health benefits, such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, wound healing, neuroprotection, cardioprotection, and hepatoprotection properties. Fish proteins, such as immunoglobins, act as defense agents against viral and bacterial infections and prevent protein-calorie malnutrition. Besides, fish oil constituents, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), regulate various signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa B pathway, Toll-like receptor pathway, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway, and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor (PPAR) pathways. In this review, the literature about health benefits of fish consumption are accumulated from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the mechanistic action of health benefits are summarized. Fish consumption at least twice per week as part of a healthy diet is beneficial for a healthy heart. More advances in this field could pose fish as a major nutrients source of foods.

Effects of Channa striata Extract on Albumin Serum and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Hyperglycemic Rats with Wound Injury: A Randomized Control Study

BACKGROUND: Patients with hyperglycemia often experience slow wound healing due to poor circulation. Extract from the striped snakehead fish Channa striata has anti-inflammatory properties and a high albumin level. It has been widely used to accelerate wound healing in a post-operative setting. AIM: This study evaluated the effect of the C. striata extract Pujimin Plus® on the albumin serum level and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in hyperglycemic rats experiencing wound injury. METHODS: This randomized controlled experiment was performed in 30 streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic adult male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). The rats were intentionally wounded, and the albumin and NLR levels were evaluated regularly. Overall, 15 rats in the intervention group were given 81 mg/day C. striata extract, and 15 rats in the control group received sodium-carboxymethyl cellulose as a placebo for 10 days. RESULTS: After 10 days of intervention the albumin level in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (2.66 ± 0.36 vs. 2.46 ± 0.13 g/dL, p > 0.05); the intervention group also showed a lower neutrophil level (23.22% vs. 26.98%, p > 0.05), a higher lymphocyte level (65.66% vs. 62.16%, p > 0.05), and a lower NLR value (0.37 vs. 0.45, p > 0.05). None of these results was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: There was a possible positive effect of C. striata extract on albumin serum level and NLR value following wound injury in hyperglycemic rats.

The Effect of Ophiocephalus striatus sp. Extract on Nitric Oxide in Ischemic Stroke Model

BACKGROUND: One of alternative medicine in stroke therapy is Ophiocephalus striatus sp. extract. The nutrients contained in the O. striatus sp. extract, namely amino acids, fatty acids, cuprum, and zinc, are useful for the process of angiogenesis in poststroke patients through increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase. AIM: We hypothesized that there was an effect of giving O. striatus sp. extract to cerebral angiogenesis process of Sprague Dawley rats ischemic stroke models through the level of NO. METHODS: This was evidenced by conducting experimental studies on rats ischemic stroke models which were divided into five groups, (a) K (−) group (no ligation, no treatment), (b) K (+) group (ligation, no treatment), (c) P1 group (ligation, 200 mg extract), (d) P2 group (ligation, 400 mg extract), and (e) P3 group (ligation, 800 mg extract). Then blood sample was taken on day 3 to assess levels of NO. RESULTS: There was increased level of NO in P1 (p = 0.001), P2 (p < 0.001), and P3 (p < 0.001) groups compared to K (+) group. The level of NO increases along with the increasing dose of O. striatus sp. extract. Histological examination revealed that there was formation of new blood vessel in the P1, P2, and P3 groups compared to K (+) group. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that O. striatus sp. extract improves cerebral angiogenesis in rat models of ischemic stroke.

In vivo effects of Channa striatus on humans and animals: a systematic review

Channa striatus contains biochemical components and albumin, which elicit beneficial effects to the consumers. This review aimed to clarify the effects of Channa striatus consumption on humans and animals in in vivo studies. A systematic search in four electronic databases namely ProQuest, EBSCOhost, PubMed, and SpringerLink was performed to choose the studies on Channa striatus as the interventions, and its effects on animals and humans. The intervention involved: (i) Channa striatus with placebo-controlled, (ii) Channa striatus pre-treated and treated with drugs, (iii) Channa striatus with the combination of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS), and (iv) Channa striatus pre-treated with amino acids and methylene blue. Thirteen animal studies and seven human studies were included in the final analysis. They investigated the effects of Channa striatus on wound healing, anti-depressant-like effects, anti-inflammatory effects, and effects on human diseases. Consumption of Channa striatus supplements was found in seven studies to benefit wound healing processes due to the contents of amino acids and fatty acids found in Channa striatus extract. Two studies were found regarding Channa striatus lipid decreased the corticosterone level and nuclear factor-kappa B, while two studies reported of DHA content in Channa striatus inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators. Channa striatus elicits a positive effect on the wound healing process and enhanced antidepressant-like and anti-inflammatory effects due to its high content of amino acids and fatty acids.

Identification of novel antioxidant peptides from snakehead (Channa argus) soup generated during gastrointestinal digestion and insights into the anti-oxidation mechanisms

Antioxidant peptides obtained from snakehead (Channa argus) soup (SHS) after simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion were separated, identified and characterized. Results showed that the fraction with MW < 3 kDa had the highest antioxidant capacity. Four novel antioxidant peptides were identified after RP-HPLC and UPLC-MS/MS. PGMLGGSPPGLLGGSPP and SDGSNIHFPN had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 1.39 mM) and Fe²⁺ chelating ability (IC₅₀ = 4.60 mM), respectively. Structures in silico for IVLPDEGK, PGMLGGSPPGLLGGSPP and SDGSNIHFPN suggest at least one β-turn and/or α-helix, which are associated with antioxidant activity. Moreover, our results showed that these three peptides docked with a recombinant Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) with a binding score greater than TX6, a good ligand of Keap1. The cell viability assay also showed significant cytoprotective effects against H₂O₂-induced cellular oxidative damage. This information implies that antioxidant mechanisms of novel SHS peptides occurred via activation of cellular anti-oxidation Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Antibacterial and cytotoxic activity assessment of Channa striatus (Haruan) extract

Background and Aim

Channa striatus extract, a freshwater snakehead fish known as Haruan, is popular in Southeast Asia for consumption and as a traditional therapeutic remedy for wound healing. C. striatus is also used in osteoarthritic for its anti-inflammatory. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of antibacterial properties of C. striatus extract against oral bacteria and to investigate the cytotoxic activity against Vero cells.

Materials and Methods

The authors prepared C. striatus extract in chloroform-methanol solvents. Next, the authors took subgingival microbiological samples from 16 cats that had periodontal disease. The authors determined the antibacterial properties of C. striatus extract against the isolated bacteria using the disk diffusion method and a broth microdilution-based resazurin microtiter assay. Finally, the authors used the Vero cell line to evaluate the cytotoxic activity, and they assessed the cell availability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Results

The results showed weak antibacterial activity of C. striatus extract against Pseudomonas spp. and Escherichia coli. In addition, the authors found that minimum inhibition concentration values ranged between 400 and 500 mg/mL, and minimum bactericidal concentration values ranged between 650 and 550 mg/mL. However, the cytotoxic results were promising, showing that C. striatus extract increased the cell viability and growth when it was at a higher concentration. The extract also promotes growth and cell proliferation.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that C. striatus extract promoted cell proliferation in vitro and could be a plausible therapeutic wound healing alternative for periodontal disease in cats.