Emerging medical uses of the giant African land snail: A review

Abstract

The giant African land snail (GALS) also known as Achatinid snails, comprises diverse species of terrestrial snails of which the most commonly consumed in West and Central Africa are Achatina achatina, Achatina fulica (recently renamed as Lissachatina fulica), and Archachatina marginata. These snails have been consumed in their native African range for centuries. However, within the past 200 years, A. fulica were introduced into other countries in the tropical world, where they evolved into intractable pests. Physical, chemical and biological control measures have been partially successful in some few countries with frequent instances of resurgences. Hence, the tropical world outside Africa is at loss on how best to manage the snail. In this review, we presented bioactive substances that have been detected in the snail, which have renewed scientific interest in their applications. Important bioactive substances that have been detected in various body parts of the snail, especially the mucus, include proteoglycans, specifically mucopolysaccharides, amino acids, peptides and proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, especially bio-calcium. Emerging applications of the bioactive substances in the snail have been reported in the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. The annual global market for snail mucus has grown tremendously reaching $1.2 billion in 2025. It is therefore suggested that the sustainable use of natural resources like GALS can balance diverse interests, create ecological balance, conserve nature, create economic benefits with the potential for controlling the pestiferous snail sustainably.