Antioxidation Activities of Low-Molecular-Weight Gelatin Hydrolysate Isolated from the Sea Cucumber Stichopus japonicus

Gelatin extracted from the body wall of the sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) was hydrolyzed with flavourzyme.Low-molecular-weight gelatin hydrolysate (LMW-GH) of 700-1700 Da was produced using an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor system.Chemiluminescence analysis revealed that LMW-GH scavenges high free radicals in a concentration-dependent manner;IC50 value for superoxide and hydroxyl radicals was 442 and 285 μg mL-1,respectively.LMW-GH exhibited excellent inhibitory characteristics against melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in B16 cells.Furthermore,LMW-GH notably increased intracellular glutathione (GSH),which in turn suppressed melanogenesis.LMW-GH performs antioxidation activity,holding the potential of being used as a valuable ingredient in function foods,cosmetics and pharmaceuticals or nutriceuticals.