Amphibian Skin Peptides Offer Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial, Antiviral, and Anticancer Potential

The body's primary barrier, the skin, is vulnerable to injury, leading to infection and impaired healing. Current wound-healing therapies often fall short, necessitating novel approaches. Amphibians, especially frogs, have evolved highly specialized skin glands that secrete a diverse array of peptides crucial for chemical defense and innate immunity. These natural compounds offer a rich source for drug discovery, with potential to address gaps in treating infections, inflammation, and even cancer, due to their unique biological activities.

This comprehensive review systematically analyzed amphibian skin peptides, primarily focusing on those from frogs, by integrating structural, functional, and bibliometric perspectives. Researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis of frog peptide-related publications over the past two decades to identify research hotspots. Peptides were then categorized based on their diverse biological functions, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, wound-healing, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and antiviral activities, providing a consolidated framework for understanding their significance.

The review highlighted the remarkable diversity of amphibian skin structures and peptide-secreting glands, underscoring their crucial role in chemical defense and innate immunity. A bibliometric analysis revealed antimicrobial and antiviral peptides as major research hotspots, dominating publications over the past two decades.

Amphibian skin peptides were systematically categorized, demonstrating broad-spectrum biological activities including potent antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. These diverse functions position them as promising candidates for novel drug development, while also necessitating careful consideration of their safety and potential toxicity for translational research. The integration of structural and functional data provides a robust foundation for future investigations into their therapeutic applications.