Skin Secretion Metabolites and Peptides Reveal Ecological Adaptation and Translational Potential in Hylarana...

Amphibians' skin secretes a wealth of bioactive compounds, vital for their survival and natural defense systems. This study employed a combined eco-physiological approach to investigate the ecological adaptation of Hylarana erythraea through metabolomic and peptidomic profiling of its skin secretions using mass spectrometry. Several extraction methods were used to capture the widest range of chemicals possible. The study identified 71 metabolites and 87 peptide pathways linked to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. The metabolite profile was mostly composed of amino acid-derived compounds, with notable activity in antioxidant and immune pathways like methionine, spermidine, and betaine metabolism. Identified peptides were largely involved in innate immunity, stress response, and wound healing, with Gene Ontology terms related to T-cell and B-cell development, and KEGG pathways connected to environmental adaptation and signal transduction. Bioactivity predicted from the peptide sequences showed strong potential for treating diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections, as well as antioxidant effects previously shown by others. This integrated analysis emphasizes how skin secretions help amphibians interact with their environment and cope with stress. These findings support H. erythraea as a model for studying amphibian eco-physiology and demonstrate the usefulness of multi-omics in connecting biochemistry to adaptive function, with potential applications within the One Health context.