# Amphibian Egg Jelly as a Biocompatible Material: Physicochemical Characterization and Selective Cytotoxicity Against Melanoma Cells

## TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of amphibian egg jelly as a biocompatible material with selective toxicity against melanoma cells.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed physicochemical analysis of Pelophylax ridibundus egg jelly and reveals its selective cytotoxicity against melanoma cells.

## Key findings

- Egg jelly of Pelophylax ridibundus contains significant carbohydrate and protein content.
- The jelly shows strong cytotoxicity against melanoma cells but is non-toxic to healthy fibroblast cells.
- The material is proposed as a promising candidate for cancer applications due to its biocompatibility and cultivability.

## Abstract

Extensive research on amphibians has focused on areas such as morphological and molecular taxonomy, ecology, embryology, and molecular phylogeny. However, the structure and biotechnological potential of egg jelly—which plays a protective and nutritive role for embryos—have remained largely unexplored. This study presents, for the first time, a detailed physicochemical analysis of the egg jelly of Pelophylax ridibundus, an amphibian species, using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analyzer, X-ray Diffraction, and elemental analysis. The carbohydrate content was determined via High-Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis, and the protein content was identified using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry analysis. Additionally, it was revealed that this jelly exhibits a significant cytotoxic effect on melanoma cells (viability < 30%) while showing no cytotoxicity on healthy dermal fibroblast cells (viability > 70%). Consequently, this non-toxic, biologically derived, and cultivable material is proposed as a promising candidate for cancer applications, paving the way for further research in the field.