Amelioration of muscle wasting by red algal protein: The preventive potential of Pyropia dentata protein In vitro and In vivo study

초록

Muscle atrophy, characterized by decreased muscle mass, represents a significant health concern that can be addressed through dietary interventions when exercise is limited. This study investigates the potential of enzyme-assisted Pyropia dentata (PD) hydrolysate, an underutilized protein-rich red seaweed, in combating muscle atrophy. Among various enzymatic treatments, Foodpro (R) PNL enzyme-assisted and ethanol-precipitated PD (PDPE) demonstrated superior efficacy, exhibiting a 2.84-fold reduction in particle size and promoting significant muscle growth both in vitro and in zebrafish models. In dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy, PDPE increased myotube diameter by 56.64 % and elevated average muscle fiber thickness in zebrafish by 15.13 %. Mechanistically, PDPE upregulated myogenesis factors (MyH by 2.1-fold) while downregulating muscle breakdown factors (MuRF1 by 4.2-fold). PDPE-treated zebrafish exhibited 35.11 % enhanced endurance and 32.22 % improved swimming speed, demonstrating functional benefits beyond cellular changes. Mass spectrometry analysis identified seven novel peptides in PDPE with high hydrophobic moments (up to 0.469), suggesting their contribution to the observed bioactivity. These findings establish PDPE as a promising biocompatible functional food ingredient for managing muscle weakness, while offering a sustainable alternative protein source for nutraceutical applications.

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