Moisturizing Effects of Alcalase Hydrolysate Fractions from Haliotis discus Viscera, a Marine Organism, on Human Dermal Fibroblasts, HaCaT Keratinocytes, and Reconstructed Human Skin Tissues

<i>Haliotis discus</i>, an abalone, is a marine gastropod mollusk that has been cultivated globally owing to its nutritional value and high market demand. However, the visceral parts of <i>H. discus</i> are typically discarded as by-products, highlighting the need to explore their potential value in developing cosmeceuticals and pharmaceuticals. This study investigated the potential moisturizing effects of <i>H. discus</i> visceral tissues. Various hydrolysates from <i>H. discus</i> viscera tissue were evaluated for proximate composition, radical scavenging, and hyaluronidase inhibition activities. Alcalase hydrolysate was isolated using gel filtration chromatography (GFC), and its moisturizing effects were tested on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), HaCaT keratinocytes, and reconstructed human skin tissue. The Alcalase hydrolysate showed the highest extraction yield, radical scavenging, and hyaluronidase inhibition activities. The Alcalase hydrolysate GFC fraction 1 increased collagen synthesis-related molecules, including procollagen type 1 in HDF and hyaluronic acid-related molecules in HaCaT cells. These moisturizing effects were confirmed in reconstructed human skin tissues by increased levels of aquaporin 3 and filaggrin. Fraction 1 consisted of two main peptides: DNPLLPGPPF and SADNPLLPGPPF. In conclusion, <i>H. discus</i> Alcalase hydrolysate and its fractions have potential moisturizing properties and can be used as cosmeceuticals.