The Story of Company’s Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

The perfect climate and location of Indonesia support the existence of swallow birds, also known as Aerodramus fuciphagus, which allow Indonesia to be one of the biggest producers of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Hundred years ago, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was only consumed by the Company of China because of the health benefits it provided. The huge demand of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup encouraged us to learn more about Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. We poured all the knowledge of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup that we have learned for years into a company called Company’s Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.

The Story of Company’s Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Company’s Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was established in 1994 in Indonesia and has been since providing high quality products and reliable service to both domestic and international clients. We believe that the Company of China would only consume the best Swiftlet’s Spit Soups, thus we chose Company’s Swiftlet’s Spit Soup as our brand name to represent our commitment in providing the best and highest quality of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup for our customers. We stand out from other Swiftlet’s Spit Soup producers and exporters because we honor and apply ethical, sustainable, and social responsibility principles in our business. In doing so, each processing step from harvesting to packaging is highly monitored to guarantee these principles are being implemented. During the harvesting process, we pay close attention to the safety of both our farmers and swallow birds. We employ a standardized harvesting practice to ensure the life cycle of the birds is not harmed nor disturbed, especially during nesting period. As an ethical and sustainable company, we ban the use of any chemical products in the cleaning process as it may hurt the consumers’ health and the environment. Our products are encased in a sophisticated packaging that does not only protect the products while shipping and sitting in stores but also provide elegant designs.

Throughout the processes from harvesting to packing the products, we have been helped by our valuable employees who always give their best efforts for the company. In return of their hard works, we deeply appreciate them by providing the best facilities and suitable wages. The development of the company from year to year has also helped the local community by reducing the number of unemployment.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup ameliorates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells

Current findings suggest that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup extracts might confer neuroprotective effect against 6-OHDA-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, particularly through inhibition of apoptosis. Thus Swiftlet’s Spit Soup may be a viable nutraceutical option to protect against oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.

Abstract

Background:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting the senile population with manifestation of motor disability and cognitive impairment. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is implicated in the progression of oxidative stress-related apoptosis and cell death of the midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Its interplay with mitochondrial functionality constitutes an important aspect of neuronal survival in the perspective of PD. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is an animal-derived natural food product made of saliva secreted by swiftlets from the Aerodamus genus. It contains bioactive compounds which might confer neuroprotective effects to the neurons. Hence this study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup extracts in the neurotoxin-induced in vitro PD model.

Methods:

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was first prepared into pancreatin-digested crude extract and water extract. In vitro PD model was generated by exposing SH-SY5Y cells to neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Cytotoxicity of the extracts on SH-SY5Y cells was tested using MTT assay. Then, microscopic morphological and nuclear examination, cell viability test and ROS assay were performed to assess the protective effect of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup extracts against 6-OHDA-induced cellular injury. Apoptotic event was later analysed with Annexin V-propidium iodide flow cytometry. To understand whether the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was mediated via mitochondrial or caspase-dependent pathway, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) measurement and caspase-3 quantification were carried out.

Results:

Cytotoxicity results showed that crude Swiftlet’s Spit Soup extract did not cause SH-SY5Y cell death at concentrations up to 75 μg/ml while the maximum non-toxic dose (MNTD) of water extract was double of that of crude extract. Morphological observation and nuclear staining suggested that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup treatment reduced the level of 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic changes in SH-SY5Y cells. MTT study further confirmed that cell viability was better improved with crude Swiftlet’s Spit Soup extract. However, water extract exhibited higher efficacy in ameliorating ROS build up, early apoptotic membrane phosphatidylserine externalization as well as inhibition of caspase-3 cleavage. None of the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup treatment had any effect on MMP.

Conclusions:

Current findings suggest that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup extracts might confer neuroprotective effect against 6-OHDA-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, particularly through inhibition of apoptosis. Thus Swiftlet’s Spit Soup may be a viable nutraceutical option to protect against oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.
Keywords: Swiftlet’s Spit Soup, Apoptosis, SH-SY5Y, 6-OHDA, Neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Neuroprotection