Sea Cucumber Intestinal Peptide Induces the Apoptosis of MCF-7 Cells by Inhibiting PI3K/AKT Pathway

Sea cucumbers are one of many marine echinoderm animals that contain valuable nutrients and medicinal compounds. The bioactive substances in sea cucumbers make them have promising biological and pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, sea cucumber intestinal peptide (SCIP) is a small molecular oligopeptide (<1,000 Da) extracted from sea cucumber intestines hydrolyzed by alkaline protease. The analysis of amino acid composition showed that hydrophobic amino acids and branched-chain amino acids were rich in SCIP. Nowadays, although increasing studies have revealed the biological functions of the sea cucumber active substances, there are few studies on the function of SCIP. Furthermore, due to the anti-cancer activity being an essential characteristic of sea cucumber active substances, we also investigated the anti-cancer potential and the underlying mechanism of SCIP in vivo and in vitro. The results indicate that SCIP inhibits the growth of MCF-7 tumor cells in zebrafish and increases the apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Further mechanism studies confirm that SCIP promotes the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and thus promotes the breast cancer cells (MCF-7) apoptosis via inhibition of PI3K/AKT signal transduction pathway.

Biology, ecology and management perspectives of overexploited deposit-feeders sea cucumbers, with focus on Holothuria tubulosa (Gmelin, 1788)

The increasing harvesting of low trophic level organisms is rising concern about the possible consequences on the ecosystem functioning. In particular, the continuous demand of sea cucumbers from the international market lead to the overexploitation of either traditionally harvested and new target species, including the Mediterranean ones. Sea cucumbers are mostly deposit feeders able to consume sedimentary organic matter and, thus, are ideal candidate for the remediation of eutrophicated sediments, like those beneath aquaculture plants. Breeding and restocking of overexploited sea cucumbers populations are well established practice for Indo-Pacific species like Holothuria scabra and Apostichopus japonicus. Some attempts have been also made for the Mediterranean species Holothuria tubulosa, but, so far, the adaptation of protocols used for other species presented several issues. We here summarize narratively the available information about sea cucumbers rearing protocols with the aim of identifying their major flaws and gaps of knowledge and fostering research about new triggers for spawning and feasible protocols to reduce the high mortality of post-settlers.

Triterpene Glycosides from the Far Eastern Sea Cucumber Psolus chitonoides: Chemical Structures and Cytotoxicities of Chitonoidosides E1, F, G, and H

Four new triterpene disulfated glycosides, chitonoidosides E1 (1), F (2), G (3), and H (4), were isolated from the Far-Eastern sea cucumber Psolus chitonoides and collected near Bering Island (Commander Islands) at depths of 100–150 m. Among them there are two hexaosides (1 and 3), differing from each other by the terminal (sixth) sugar residue, one pentaoside (4) and one tetraoside (2), characterized by a glycoside architecture of oligosaccharide chains with shortened bottom semi-chains, which is uncommon for sea cucumbers. Some additional distinctive structural features inherent in 1–4 were also found: the aglycone of a recently discovered new type, with 18(20)-ether bond and lacking a lactone in chitonoidoside G (3), glycoside 3-O-methylxylose residue in chitonoidoside E1 (1), which is rarely detected in sea cucumbers, and sulfated by uncommon position 4 terminal 3-O-methylglucose in chitonoidosides F (2) and H (4). The hemolytic activities of compounds 1–4 and chitonoidoside E against human erythrocytes and their cytotoxic action against the human cancer cell lines, adenocarcinoma HeLa, colorectal adenocarcinoma DLD-1, and monocytes THP-1, were studied. The glycoside with hexasaccharide chains (1, 3 and chitonoidoside E) were the most active against erythrocytes. A similar tendency was observed for the cytotoxicity against adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, but the demonstrated effects were moderate. The monocyte THP-1 cell line and erythrocytes were comparably sensitive to the action of the glycosides, but the activity of chitonoidosides E and E1 (1) significantly differed from that of 3 in relation to THP-1 cells. A tetraoside with a shortened bottom semi-chain, chitonoidoside F (2), displayed the weakest membranolytic effect in the series.

The new drying technology of sea cucumber

In this work, we studied the drying characteristics and the quality of sea cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus) that underwent preliminary processing using microwaves during freeze drying. The qualitative parameters of the samples (FD) are compared. The results of shortening the drying period using microwave pre-treatment during drying are analyzed. Experimental data were also obtained and the rehydration process and the chemical composition (protein, carbohydrates) of the dried sample were compared.

Population Density, Distribution, and Species Composition of Sea Cucumbers in Pagasinan Tidal Flat, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines

This study investigated the population density, distribution, and species composition of sea cucumbers in Pagasinan Tidal Flat, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. Sea cucumbers were collected in the night along the tidal flat and by snorkeling along the reef area. The study recorded seven species belonging to genera Holothuria (five species), Bohadschia (one species), and Stichopus (one species). The population densities ranged from 0.09 ± 0.5 to 3.85 ± 1.67 individuals per 100 m2 each with varying habitat preferences.

Sea cucumber species found in Soft-bottom of Wulan Estuary-Demak, Central Java

Indonesia has been known to have a high diversity of sea cucumber, but data and information are mostly on high-economic-value species. Sea cucumber living in soft-bottom substrates is less studied and unexploited. Wulan estuary located in the Demak Regency of Central Java was experiencing high sedimentation, which was consisted of fine material, and acted as a habitat for many macrozoobenthos, amongst others sea cucumbers. The objective of the present research was to identify the species of sea cucumber in the soft bottom of the Wulan estuary. The collection of sea cucumber specimens was done using a dredge. A total of 132 specimens were collected, examined, and identified through their morphological characters. The holothuroids found in the soft-bottom of the Wulan estuary represent five genera (Acaudina, Colochirus, Holothuria, Paracaudina, Phyllophorus,) in four families (Caudinidae, Cucumariidae, Holothuriidae, and Phyllophoridae) belonging to three orders (Molpadida, Dendrochirotida, and Aspidochirotida). The species were Acaudina sp., A. molpadioides, Colochirus quadrangularis, Holothuria cf. impatiens, Paracaudina sp., Paracaudina chilensis, P. australis, and Phyllophorus spiculata. A. molpadioides is presented as the most frequently found species. Although sea cucumber found in the Wulan estuary has not been exploited, it still needs to be managed to sustain its population.

A Review of Factors Influencing the Seagrass-Sea Cucumber Association in Tropical Seagrass Meadows

In the tropical ecosystem, sea cucumbers are associated with seagrass meadows in various ways, often forming a network of ecological interactions. From this myriad of interactions, the trophic relationship between the seagrasses and sea cucumbers has received recent attention with the advent of analytical techniques. However, little is understood about the exact mechanism by which seagrasses are sustaining the sea cucumber populations in the food chain, considering the high number of refractory components in seagrasses and the lack of digestive enzymes among sea cucumbers. This manuscript aims to review existing concepts in ecology concerning the association between tropical seagrasses and sea cucumbers to provide directions for research and management of this vital resource. We searched literature from electronic databases and identified key concepts concerning sea cucumber and seagrass communities based on geographic distribution, nutrient compositions, seagrass decomposition process, and trophic enrichments in the food chain. A conceptual model was then developed detailing the factors influencing the association between the seagrass meadows and sea cucumbers. Despite the limited published information on the seagrass–sea cucumber association, a synthesis of the current understanding of this topic is provided to address the declining sea cucumber populations in the tropical seagrass meadows. We suggest that the successful restoration of sea cucumber fisheries requires a thorough understanding of the seagrass decomposition process, which is vital to the diet of sea cucumbers.

Isolation of sea cucumbers’s (Holothuria atra) secondary metabolite using column-chromatography technique

Identification of sea cucumbers from Benteng Inong Balee, Aceh Besar and their phytochemistry screening were conducted in December 2020 to January 2021 at Laboratory of Marine Chemistry and Fisheries Biotechnology, Universitas Syiah Kuala. The purpose of this study was to identify the species of sea cucumbers and its secondary metabolite content using phytochemistry screening and column chromatography. The species of sea cucumbers that were identified was Holothuria atra. The extraction method used in sea cucumber extraction was maceration method, while the separation of secondary metabolites used column-chromatography with eluent of n-hexane : ethyl acetate (8:4). The results showed that secondary metabolites obtained from phytochemical tests were flavonoids, saponins and triterpenoids.