Comparative analysis of antioxidant activity and accelerated collagen expression of human skin fibroblasts with gelatin hydrolysates from different sources.

Gelatin hydrolysates have been extensively used as nutraceutical agents, exhibiting significant biological activity. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activity and enhancement of collagen expression in human skin fibroblast (HDF-α) cells treated with gelatin hydrolysates from different sources. Results indicate that the gelatin hydrolysates exhibited remarkable DPPH·, ABTS·+ and OH· scavenging capabilities. Notably, the gelatin hydrolysates derived from bovine, donkey and tilapia skin showed significantly higher scavenging capacities than those from other sources (p < 0.05). Gelatin hydrolysates alleviated oxidative stress in H2O2-induced HDF-α cells by reducing malonaldehyde, reactive oxygen species levels, enhancing catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity and stimulating total antioxidant capacity expression. Additionally, the expression of types I and III collagen were enhanced through the TGF-β/Smads and MAPK/AP-1/MMP pathways in HDF-α cells. These findings support the potential application of gelatin hydrolysates in medicinal and food industries for preventing and treating oxidative stress-related disorders and skin ageing.