Comparison of Pretreatment Methods for Obtaining Collagen Hydrolysates from the Swim Bladder of Totoaba macdonaldi and Their Negative Impact on Cancer Cells

The search for therapeutic bioactive peptides has led to the utilization of marine byproducts as collagen sources. This study evaluated the effect of collagen hydrolysates (CH) obtained from the swim bladder (SB) of Totoaba macdonaldi on breast (MCF-7) and colorectal (Caco-2) adenocarcinoma cells and on human dermal fibroblasts (CRL-1474), considering the need for less invasive and less toxic treatment alternatives. Two pretreatment methods for the SB were compared: (1) NaOH and butanol (SBPT), and (2) hexane (SBDF). The pretreated tissues underwent direct enzymatic hydrolysis using bromelain. The resulting hydrolysates were characterized by SDS-PAGE, Raman spectroscopy, and chromatographic profiling. Both pretreatments preserved the structure of type I collagen. Bromelain hydrolysis was efficient, yielding peptides with molecular weights below 20 kDa for CH-SBPT and below 10 kDa for CH-SBDF. CH of Totoaba macdonaldi significantly reduced MCF-7 and Caco-2 cells viability, particularly at 20 mg/mL. In CRL-1474 fibroblasts, CH-SBDF stimulated cell proliferation, while CH-SBPT had neutral effects. Hexane pretreatment is a viable alternative to NaOH, reducing processing steps without compromising yield or bioactivity. CH derived from Totoaba macdonaldi exhibit promising anticancer and regenerative properties, suggesting potential biomedical applications. Further research is needed to isolate specifically active peptides and elucidate their mechanisms of action.