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A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity

Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2 31 Temmuz 2026
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A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity

Öz

Skin aging involves the progressive dysregulation of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes and oxidative stress pathways, driving demand for biologically characterized cosmeceutical ingredients. This study provides the first direct comparative evaluation of apilarnil , a lyophilized drone larvae-derived bee product (Apis mellifera) and acetyl hexapeptide-3 (Argireline®; Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-NH₂), a synthetic neurotransmitter inhibitor peptide, with respect to total antioxidant capacity, elastase, collagenase, and human tyrosinase inhibitory activities, and cytotoxicity toward HaCaT human keratinocytes. Compositional characterization of apilarnil revealed a protein-rich profile (42.67 g/100 g) containing 16 amino acids, multiple vitamins, and mineral constituents. Acetyl hexapeptide-3 exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity (5304.7 ± 103.9 µM Trolox equivalents) compared to apilarnil (645.3 ± 23.3 µM TE), attributable to the abundance of electron-donating residues in its defined sequence. Acetyl hexapeptide-3 also produced potent, concentration-dependent inhibition of elastase (IC₅₀ = 1.534 mg/mL) and collagenase (IC₅₀ = 0.00811 mg/mL), whereas apilarnil displayed a biphasic hormetic dose–response for both enzymes, with low-dose activation followed by high-dose inhibition. Neither compound showed an apparent inhibitory effect on human tyrosinase in a single preliminary experiment (n = 1); given the lack of statistical replication, this finding should be considered exploratory and requires confirmatory replication. Cytotoxicity assessment demonstrated that apilarnil was non-toxic across all tested concentrations (0.3125–20 mg/mL; viability >90%), while acetyl hexapeptide-3 exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ = 5.34% v/v). These findings reveal complementary bioactivity profiles between the two compounds, suggesting potential value in further investigating their combined use in cosmeceutical formulations.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Apilarnil, Acetyl hexapeptide-3, Apitherapy, Enzyme inhibition, Antioxidant capacity, Cytotoxicity

Destekleyen Kurum

Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Proje Numarası

5250020

Etik Beyan

This study did not involve any human participants or animals. Therefore, ethics committee approval was not required.

Teşekkür

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) under the 1505 University–Industry Collaboration Support Program (Project No. 5250020).

Kaynakça

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Kaynak Göster

APA
Dikmen Küçük, S., & Kekeçoğlu, M. (2026). A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature, 9(2), 201-212. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1944650
AMA
1.Dikmen Küçük S, Kekeçoğlu M. A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature. 2026;9(2):201-212. doi:10.35206/jan.1944650
Chicago
Dikmen Küçük, Sibel, ve Meral Kekeçoğlu. 2026. “A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9 (2): 201-12. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1944650.
EndNote
Dikmen Küçük S, Kekeçoğlu M (01 Temmuz 2026) A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9 2 201–212.
IEEE
[1]S. Dikmen Küçük ve M. Kekeçoğlu, “A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity”, Journal of Apitherapy and Nature, c. 9, sy 2, ss. 201–212, Tem. 2026, doi: 10.35206/jan.1944650.
ISNAD
Dikmen Küçük, Sibel - Kekeçoğlu, Meral. “A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9/2 (01 Temmuz 2026): 201-212. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1944650.
JAMA
1.Dikmen Küçük S, Kekeçoğlu M. A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature. 2026;9:201–212.
MLA
Dikmen Küçük, Sibel, ve Meral Kekeçoğlu. “A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature, c. 9, sy 2, Temmuz 2026, ss. 201-12, doi:10.35206/jan.1944650.
Vancouver
1.Sibel Dikmen Küçük, Meral Kekeçoğlu. A Comparative Study on the Biological Activities of a Synthetic Peptide (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) and a Natural Bee Product (Apilarnil): Antioxidant Capacity, Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, and Cytotoxicity. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature. 01 Temmuz 2026;9(2):201-12. doi:10.35206/jan.1944650