en Biology & physiology Biology & physiology پژوهشي Orginal research papers <i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Radix auricularia</span></span></span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"> is a non-native and invasive freshwater snail species and it may have destructive impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem structure. In recent years, snail mucus, as a sticky substance, has garnered significant attention in the medical and cosmetic industries due to its content of numerous bioactive compounds. <span style="background:white">Despite frequently being discarded as waste due to the build-up of calcium carbonate crystals through biomineralization, shells of freshwater snail serve multiple functions in aquatic environments and have potential industrial applications. </span>Hence, this study aims to identify bioactive compounds in the mucus and analyze the shell microstructure and mineralogy of the European ear snail (<i>Radix auricularia</i>). Bioactive constituents of mucus were characterized by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-FID-MS) analysis. <span style="background:white">We also conducted analyses on the organic matrix of shells from <i>R. auricularia</i> using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). </span>Our results indicated that ten compounds are characterized by Eicosane (34.16%), 9-Octadecen-1-ol, (Z)- (11.86%) and <i>N,N</i>-Dimetylpalmitamide (5.55%) as the main components of mucus. The antioxidant potential, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of Eicosane was in notable quantity in <span style="background:white">the<i> </i></span>mucus. In addition, <span style="background:white">the elemental composition of shell powder comprised of carbon, aluminium, oxygen, calcium, iron, magnesium, silicium, manganese, sodium, sulphur and phosphorus</span>. <span style="background:white">Aragonite emerged as the dominant mineralogy in the inorganic layer of their shells, as confirmed by XRD. </span>Overall, individual compounds of mucus could be isolated and purified mucus compounds could have applications in pharmaceuticals and health sectors. T<span style="background:white">he shells of <i>R. auricularia</i> offer potential for diverse applications and contribute to environmental sustainability as valuable biomaterials.</span></span></span></span> Radix auricularia, Freshwater snail, Mucus, Shell, Microstructure 455 465 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-511-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 F. Kutluyer Kocabaş filizkutluyer@hotmail.com 100319475328460058766 100319475328460058766 Yes Munzur University, Fisheries Faculty, 62000, Tunceli, Türkiye M. Kocabaş mkocabas@hotmail.com 100319475328460058767 100319475328460058767 No Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Forestry, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management 61080, Trabzon, Türkiye V. Kizak volkankizak@gmail.com 100319475328460058768 100319475328460058768 No Munzur University, Fisheries Faculty, 62000, Tunceli, Türkiye B. Korkmaz bkorkmaz@gmail.com 100319475328460058769 100319475328460058769 No Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Karadeniz Technical University, 61100, Trabzon, Türkiye