Research Progress on the Structure and Function of Antioxidant Peptides Derived from Amphibians: A Review

Abstract

The amphibian skin is not only a coating; it consists of a system of activities related to respiration, osmosis, and thermoregulation and, because of that, enables the creature to survive on land. Besides that, the skin synthesises a broad array of bioactive compounds that act as defences against the environment and pathogenic agents. Still, they also play a wide range of other biological roles. Antioxidant peptides in the amphibian system can hinder lipid peroxidation and defend the body against free radical attacks. Thus, when the normal balance of oxidative stress is broken by excessive production of free radicals, the intake of sufficient amounts of antioxidant peptides may reinstate the imbalance, and, therefore, minimise the risk of developing a disease. However, this is the least developed field and the research on antioxidant amphibian peptides is particularly underrepresented in the literature. The current paper provides an overview of the structure and function of antioxidant peptides in amphibian skin, aiding in a better understanding of how particular species have evolved defences against environmental assault and the future development and utilisation of amphibian antioxidant peptides.