**4. Materials and Methods**

*4.1. Materials and Reagents*

Fresh oysters (*Crassostrea hongkongensis*) were purchased from the local market in Zhanjiang, China (oysters were shelled at the market and immediately stored at −30 ◦C until use). Compound protease (4.5 × <sup>10</sup><sup>5</sup> U g−1) was obtained from Pangbo Biotech (Nanjing, China). Triptolide (purity > 98%) were purchased from Meilun-Biotech Co., Ltd. (Dalian, China). Vitamin E (VE) (H44021026) was purchased from Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Factory (Guangzhou, China). All chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade and commercially available.
