Squid skins are byproducts during the fish processing, generally used as low-value feedstuffs or fertilizers. In order to increase the utilization of squid skin, we prepared hydrolysates from squid skin by commercial protease, and then to evaluate the functional properties. Results showed that the changes of molecular weight distribution of the enzymatic hydrolysates from squid skin after treated with gastrointestinal protease, significant decreasing the peptides with molecular weight more than 3000 Da, whereas significant increasing those less than 700Da. And the antioxidant abilities including DPPH free radical scavenging activity, chelating activity of Fe2+, reducing power, and SOD activity of peptides, released from gastrointestinal digestion, were 91.3±0.4%, 97.7±0.3%, 2.6±0.1 (abs), and 74.2±0.2%, respectively. These values of antioxidant activities were significantly increased as compared to untreated group in the vitro gastrointestinal digestion. In addition, no significantly difference was observed in the IC50. Values of angiotensin I-converting (ACE) inhibitory activity of peptides, which before (65 μg peptide /mL) and after (83 μg peptide/mL) treatment with gastrointestinal protease in vitro digestion. These results indicated the hydrolysates from squid skin exhibited antioxidative activities and blood pressure regulation after oral administration. Furthermore the highest fibrinolytic enzyme activity from squid skin fermented with Bacillus subtilis FRI1 and FRI3 was observed under 150 rpm at 37℃ after 72hr administration. Enzymatic hydrolysates from squid skin was demonstrated no cytotoxicity to neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) by MTT assays. Moreover, the hydrolysates (0.1-5 mg/mL) can dose-dependently stimulate the neural cell proliferation and significantly promote the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px) on the SH-SY5Y cells at the concentration of 1.2~2.5mg/mL. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is prooxidant, that induced SH-SY5Y cells to produce approximately 5.6 times of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as the survival rate of cells decreased significantly to 65.7% as compared to control (without H2O2) under oxidative stress. However, hydrolysates of squid skin (1.2 mg/mL) could increase significantly the expression of antioxidant enzymes in SH-SY5Y cells, and consequently scavenge free radicals, thus increase survival rate of the neural cells and against H2O2-induced oxidative damage. In summary, hydrolysates of squid skin by enzymatic hydrolysis or Bacillus fermentation could be used as a novel candidate for antioxidant, blood pressure regulatory, fibrinolytic agents and anti-aging on the functional food or supplementary. Therefore, optimized utilization of this under-utilized squid skin, especially the production of value-added products, is a promising means to increase the revenue of producers.
Key words: Squid skin, Free radical scavenging activity, Fibrinolytic enzyme, Angiotensin I-converting (ACE) enzyme, Anti-aging