Sea cucumber, its biologically active components, its antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antimicrobial activity, anti-carcinogenic activity, hypoglycemic activity, hypolipidemic activity and other health benefits, its culinary uses and risk factors
Description : Sea cucumber is one of the most nutritious marine animals and it should not be confused with
Article Details :
Sea cucumber is one of the most nutritious marine animals and it should not be confused with vegetables. It has been traditionally used for various medicinal purposes.
Some important information regarding sea cucumber
- Sea cucumber basically lives on sea floor and extensively found in Pacific Ocean
- It resembles caterpillars or worms
- It has a soft and tubular body. Basically it has a slippery texture
- It has bland taste, thus it is often infused with flavor from other ingredients such as spices, meats and other seafoods
- It has been widely used for various culinary purposes
- It has been traditionally used in folk medicines for various medicinal purposes as well
Nutritional profile
- It contains lesser amount of carbohydrates and fibres
- It also contains lesser amount of fat
- It does not provide enough calories on its oxidation due to its low fat and carbohydrate contents thus it is considered as low calorie food
- It is significantly rich in proteins and composed of various important amino acids. Proteins found in sea cucumber are generally considered as the protein of high biological value
- It is loaded with various important micronutrients, which include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, calcium and magnesium
Biologically active components of sea cucumber
Apart from nutrients, sea cucumber is also loaded with various important biologically active components that exhibit several health benefits. These components include –
Phenols
- It is an important organic component found in sea cucumber
- It plays vital role in exerting several nutraceutical activities
- It is very effective for showing antioxidant activity that helps to reduce the susceptibility of becoming ill by protecting the body from the free radical induced oxidative damages
Flavonoids
- It is another important natural substance of sea cucumber that offers various health benefits
- It also acts as antioxidant and helps to protect the body from the detrimental effects of free radicals
- It exerts anti-inflammatory activity as well, which play vital role in preventing inflammation
- It helps in decreasing the concentration of inflammatory markers within body, as a result delays the onset of inflammatory events, which subsequently reduces the risk of developing chronic inflammatory diseases
- It is very useful for reducing the susceptibility of neurological disorders as well, especially Alzheimer’s disease by delaying the progression of neuro-inflammatory events
Triterpene glycosides
- These are very important components present in sea cucumber responsible for exhibiting numerous health benefits
- They help to exert antifungal activity and help to prevent the growth of fungus and various other microbes within host thus reduce the risk of developing infectious diseases
- They also exert anti-tumor activity thus help in suppressing the growth of tumor cells
- They help to exhibit immune boosting activity as well, which is accountable for enhancing overall immunological responses of the body as a result help in decreasing the susceptibility of becoming ill
Compounds that are structurally related to chondroitin sulfate
- Chondroitin sulfate is considered as one of the most important components of human connective tissue especially found in bone and cartilage and sea cucumber also contains various compounds, which are structurally related to chondroitin sulfate thus its consumption is thought to be extremely beneficial for strengthening the overall skeletal system
- It plays imperative role in improving the symptoms of arthritis especially osteoarthritis
Biological activity
Antioxidant activity
- It contains various micronutrients as well as phytonutrients (mentioned above) that are accountable for exerting powerful antioxidant activity
- It plays vital role in neutralizing free radicals. We all know that free radicals are unstable atoms generated through metabolic reactions and are responsible for damaging cells severely, thus it is better to decrease their concentration within body in order to prevent cellular damages and it can be easily done by consuming antioxidant rich food like sea cucumber
- It is also associated with protecting the body from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species. It helps to prevent lipid peroxidation too. As a result it helps in decreasing oxidative stress thus promotes well being as oxidative stress is considered Read more
