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Purpose <p>This study aimed to investigate the effects of gamma-irradiation on mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L.) proteins and to identify bioactive peptides with dual anti-melanogenesis and anti-wrinkle activities.</p> Materials and methods <p>Mealworm biomass was exposed to gamma-irradiation at doses ranging from 20 to 300&#xa0;Gy, followed by protein extraction. Enzyme inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and collagenase were evaluated to assess biofunctional enhancement. Irradiation-responsive peptides were identified using a transcriptomics- and computational-based screening approach integrated with machine learning-based prediction, and chemically synthesized. The bioactivities of the selected peptide were further evaluated using IBMX-induced B16F10 melanoma cells and UVB-irradiated CCD-986sk human dermal fibroblast cells through melanin content analysis, procollagen quantification, and Western blot analysis.</p> Results <p>Gamma-irradiation significantly enhanced the tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitory activities of mealworm protein extracts, with the highest activity observed at 300&#xa0;Gy. Among the synthesized peptides, VRVWG exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects against both enzymes. In cellular assays, VRVWG effectively suppressed melanin production and downregulated melanogenesis-related proteins, including tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2, without inducing cytotoxicity. Furthermore, VRVWG restored type I procollagen production and reduced the expression of collagen-degrading enzymes MMP-1 and MMP-9 in UVB-irradiated fibroblasts.</p> Conclusion <p>These findings demonstrate that gamma-irradiation is an effective strategy for generating multifunctional bioactive peptides from mealworm proteins. The identified peptide VRVWG exhibits dual anti-melanogenic and anti-wrinkle activities, highlighting its potential as a functional peptide for cosmetic and therapeutic applications.</p>

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Anti-melanogenesis and Anti-wrinkle Effects of Novel Peptides Derived from Tenebrio Molitor L. (mealworm) Expressed by Gamma-Irradiation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月19日

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  • Hanui Lee,
  • Gyeong Han Jeong,
  • Ji Wan Choi,
  • Tae Hoon Kim,
  • Byung Yeoup Chung,
  • Seung Sik Lee

摘要

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effects of gamma-irradiation on mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) proteins and to identify bioactive peptides with dual anti-melanogenesis and anti-wrinkle activities.

Materials and methods

Mealworm biomass was exposed to gamma-irradiation at doses ranging from 20 to 300 Gy, followed by protein extraction. Enzyme inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and collagenase were evaluated to assess biofunctional enhancement. Irradiation-responsive peptides were identified using a transcriptomics- and computational-based screening approach integrated with machine learning-based prediction, and chemically synthesized. The bioactivities of the selected peptide were further evaluated using IBMX-induced B16F10 melanoma cells and UVB-irradiated CCD-986sk human dermal fibroblast cells through melanin content analysis, procollagen quantification, and Western blot analysis.

Results

Gamma-irradiation significantly enhanced the tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitory activities of mealworm protein extracts, with the highest activity observed at 300 Gy. Among the synthesized peptides, VRVWG exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects against both enzymes. In cellular assays, VRVWG effectively suppressed melanin production and downregulated melanogenesis-related proteins, including tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2, without inducing cytotoxicity. Furthermore, VRVWG restored type I procollagen production and reduced the expression of collagen-degrading enzymes MMP-1 and MMP-9 in UVB-irradiated fibroblasts.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that gamma-irradiation is an effective strategy for generating multifunctional bioactive peptides from mealworm proteins. The identified peptide VRVWG exhibits dual anti-melanogenic and anti-wrinkle activities, highlighting its potential as a functional peptide for cosmetic and therapeutic applications.