Showing papers on "Holothuria published in 2013"

Antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of two sea cucumbers, Holothuria edulis lesson and Stichopus horrens Selenka.

Abstract: Sea cucumbers are marine invertebrates of the phylum of Echinodermata that have been used in Asian traditional medicine since ancient times. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of aqueous and organic extracts from two sea cucumber species, Holothuria edulis Lesson (Holothuriidae) and Stichopus horrens Selenka (Stichopodidae). Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by DPPH· and β-carotene bleaching assays, while MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays were used to demonstrate the cytotoxic effects of the extracts against two human cancer cell lines, non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549) and esophageal cancer cells (TE1). The results showed that both aqueous and organic extracts of H. edulis were able to scavenge DPH radical (IC50 at 2.04 mg/ml and 8.73 mg/ml, respectively). Aqueous and organic extracts of S. horrens inhibited 79.62% and 46.66% of β-carotene oxidation by linoleate free radical. On the other hand, the organic extract of S. horrens exhibited the highest cytotoxic effects against A549 and TE1 cancer cells giving IC50 at 15.5 and 4.0 μg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, the present study revealed that H. edulis and S. horrens contain promising levels of antioxidant and cytotoxic natural products that might be used for cancer prevention and treatment.

Nutritional value of some Egyptian sea cucumbers

Abstract: Functional food that contains biologically-active compounds is an important source for prevention, management and treatment of chronic diseases in the modern age. The present work showed the quality of some Egyptian sea cucumbers to encourage Egyptian natives using them as an alternative food. The present work investigated the morphometric parameters, the proximate chemical composition, the amino acids and fatty acid profiles of Actinopyga mauritiana, Holothuria scarba, Bohadschia marmorata and Holothuria leucospilota. The results showed that Actinopyga mauritiana had the highest length, width, weight, and body wall thickness. All the investigated sea cucumbers had high content of protein (43.23 to 48.27%), carbohydrates (44.62 to 48.56%) and very low content of fats (4.6 to 5.66%). Among the investigated specimens A. mauritiana showed the highest percentage of total protein (48.27%), Holothuria leucospilota showed the lowest level of total lipids (4.6%), while Holothuria scarba showed the highest percentage of carbohydrates (48.65%). Glycine was the most abundant amino acids in all studied sea cucumbers (18.38 to 19.172 g/100 g) and constituted 37 to 39% of the total amino acids. Lycine: argignin ratio was low in H. scarba, H. leucospilota and B. marmorata (0.410, 0.428 and 0.9, respectively) while was higher in A. mauritiana (3.56). Myristic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid (SFA) in all studied sea cucumbers (19.789 to 37.036 %) followed by palmitic acid (16.93 to 16.926%). Among the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) oleic and linoelaidic acids were the most abundant acids in all investigated cucumbers. On the other side linoleic acid (omega 6) was abundant in H. scarba and constituted 26% of the UFA. In conclusion, all investigated sea cucumbers had high protein and low fat contents and the bioactive compounds in the sea cucumbers describe its efficacy in tissue regeneration and inflammatory diseases.

Chemical fingerprinting and phylogenetic mapping of saponin congeners from three tropical holothurian sea cucumbers

Abstract: Holothurians are sedentary marine organisms known to produce saponins (triterpene glycosides), secondary metabolites exhibiting a wide range of biological activities. In this paper, we investigated the saponin contents of semi-purified and membranolytic HPLC fractionated extracts from the body wall of three species of Holothuriidae as an attempt to examine its chemical diversity in relation to phylogenetic data. MALDI–FTICR MS and nano-HPLC-chip Q-TOF MS were used for mass profiling and isomer separation, respectively giving a unique chemical saponin fingerprint. Moreover, the methods used yield the highest number of congeners. However, saponin concentration, bioactivity and chemical diversity had no apparent relationship. MS fingerprint showed the presence of holothurinosides, which was observed for the first time in other Holothuria genera besides the basally positioned Holothuria forskali. This congener is proposed to be a primitive character that could be used for taxonomic purposes. The phylogenetic mapping also showed that the glycone part of the compound evolved from non-sulfated hexaosides to sulfated tetraosides, which have higher membranolytic activity and hydrophilicity, the two factors affecting the total ecological activity (i.e. chemical defense) of these compounds. This might be an adaptation to increase the fitness of the organism.

Screening of microbial contamination and antimicrobial activity of sea cucumber Holothuria polii.

Abstract: Microbiological studies were carried out on microbial contamination and antimicrobial activity of sea cucumber Holothuria polii collected from Mediterranean Sea at Abu-kir shore of Alexandria, Egypt. The obtained results revealed the presence of isolates of five human Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, representing five genera were identified to species level, including, Esherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. In addition, an yeast Candida albicans was isolated. The pathogenic bacteria were identified using API 20E strip system (BioMereux). All collected H. polii specimens were healthy with no external signs of infection. Histopathological study of the tegument, intestine and gonads showed no abnormal changes. The antimicrobial activity of two tegumental ethanol extracts (A and B, differ in the method of dehydration) were tested against wide range of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including intestinal, skin and nosocomial pathogens and one plant fungal pathogen. The results revealed a remarkable antifungal activity of the extract B at 2.5 mg/ml MIC90, especially on Aspergillus niger, Scloretium sp, C. albicans, Aspergillus flavus and Malassezia furfur, and limited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella choleraesuis ATCC 14028 and Aeromonas hydrophila). The domain of bacterial and limited fungal contamination confirms the results that showed strong antifungal activity of investigated extract.

Identification of sea cucumber species around Hengam Island (Persian Gulf, Iran)

Abstract: Although sea cucumber is commercially important, its biology, ecology and dynamic of population have not been known yet in the Persian Gulf. With this respect, this study has been conducted to identify the species present around Hengam Island in the Persian Gulf. Six species of sea cucumber (four species belonging to the genus Holothuria and another two species belonging to the genus Stichopus) were collected on the sub-tidal zone of Hengam Island (Persian Gulf) via SCUBA diving at depths of 5–15 m in March–July 2012. The species identification was made using morphological keys and review of their ossicles.

Holothuria (Semperothuria) roseomaculata n. sp. (Aspidochirotida: Holothuriidae), a coral-reef inhabiting sea cucumber from the western Pacific Ocean

Abstract: Holothuria (Semperothuria) roseomaculata n. sp. is described from the main islands of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. The ossicles are similar to those of its sister species, the sympatric H. (S.) flavomaculata Semper, 1868, but the new species is easily recognised, both in the field and among preserved specimens, by its much larger, rose-coloured dorsal papillae that fade to white in alcohol. Holothuria (S.) roseomaculata n. sp. appears to be an endemic of the tropical westernmost Pacific Ocean; it has been recorded from Okinawa to New Caledonia.

Comparación analítica de los productos naturales de tres especies de pepino de mar: Holothuria grisea, Synaptula reciprocans y Holothuria manningi / Comparative analysis of the natural products of three sea cucumber species: Holothuria grisea, Synaptula reciprocans and Holothuria manningí

Abstract: Holothurians have been used in food and medicine probably due to the chemical compounds found within them. They are usually composed of triterpene glycosides, also called saponins, which often play an ecological role in the environment, but also have pharmacological and toxicological properties. This project explored the chemical composition of three understudied holothurian species: Holothuria grisea, Synaptula reciprocans and Holothuria manningi. LC-MS and NMR procedures were performed on each of the species in an attempt to elucidate the chemical composition along with bioassays to reveal the biological functions of the compounds. The analysis provided evidence for the presence of saponins in H. grisea and H. manningi, but S. reciprocans does not contain significant amounts of triterpene glycosides. The results have not previously been reported thus corresponding to probably six new compounds between the two species. The study was limited in its scope due to the material availability and the complexity of the analysis. These results contribute the current literature in that they provide a starting point for the chemical description of the studied species. Furthermore, analysis utilizing more material and sophisticated NMR experiments with pure compounds is required in order to make more concrete inferences and ecological conclusions. Holothurians, commonly known as sea cucumbers, are the second most numerous group of echinoderms with more than 1500 described species 3 and a worldwide distribution in all marine climate zones and bioregions, from shallow waters to the deep ocean. Sea cucumbers have been used as food and a source of medicine since ancient times, especially in the Asian market. 7 Known as trepang or bêche-de-mer, they are considered a delicacy with aphrodisiac characteristics. 7 9 This belief could be based on the medicinal properties that may be given by high protein content and triterpene glycosides; or, related to the so-called doctrine of signatures, in which its properties are associated to the physical appearance of an organism. The triterpene glycosides, also called saponins (their name is derived from ability to form stable, soaplike foams in aqueous solutions) are formed by a hydrophobic part (known as aglycone) and hydrophilic carbohydrate chain. These are typical secondary metabolites of plant origin that can also be found in animals such as holothurians. Most of triterpene glycosides in sea cucumbers are lanostane derivatives having aglycones belonging to a holostane type [3{3,205-dihydroxy-5alanostano-18,20-lactone] (Figure 1). A carbohydrate chain including from two to six monosaccharide units is linked to C-3 of aglycone, which may be triterpenoid or steroid. The sugar composition often includes D-xylose, D-quinovose, 3-O-methyl-D-glycose, D-3-O-methylxylose and D-glucose but also other sugars. These are different types of sugars such as pentose (C5H10O5) or hexose (C6H12O6) that can have a methyl group (i.e. methylated hexose, C7H14O6) or a hydrogen atom instead of the hydroxyl group (i.e. deoxyhexose, C6H12O5). Different isomers (compounds with identical formula but different stereochemistry) exist for these types of sugars, which usually make their identification a difficult task. The same occurs with aglycones that have the same formula but differ in the position of individual substituents (regiochemistry), in addition to the free-dimensional arrangement of substituents in space (stereochemistry).

Holothuria sp. (Type Pentard), a new teat-fish variety from Indian waters

Abstract: Commercial sea cucumbers that are targeted for the dried product ‘beche-de-mer’ preparation consist of species belonging to seven genera under two families (Holothuridae and Stichopodidae) of the order Aspidochirotids and one genus under the family Cucumarriadae of the order Dendrochirotes. Among the Holothuria genus, five species are processed world-wide. Teat fishes consist of group of three species under the genus Holothuria characterised by the presence of teat like projection on their lateral side. They are widely processed and are considered high valued species in the commercial market. Mainly two varieties are coming under this group, the black teat fish Holothuria nobilis which is black on the dorsal side with white bloches and spot on the sides of the animal and around the teats. The white variety H. fuscogliva has varied colour pattern, ranging from dark brown to dark grey with whitish spots, or whitish or beige with dark brown blotches. Dried items are prized US$20-80 and US$17-33/kg for H.nobilis and H. fuscogliva respectively. Colour variants of teat fishes like Holothuria whitamaei (black teat fish), Holothuria sp. (type Pentard) commonly called flower teat fish are recently been included in this category and fetched high values in the international markets.

Holothuria (Selenkothuria) parvispinea n. sp. (Echinodermata, Hololthuroidea, Holothuriidae) with key to the sub-genus Selenkothuria.

Abstract: Description of a new species from Australia, belonging to the subgenus Selenkothuria (Holothuria, Aspidochirotida). A dichotomous key of the thirteen valid species included in the subgenus is also given. The species H. perrieri Thandar, 1977 and H. spinea Cherbonnier, 1988 are considered as non valid.