Sea Cucumbers Metabolites as Potent Anti-Cancer Agents

Abstract

Sea cucumbers and their extracts have gained immense popularity and interest among researchers and nutritionists due to their nutritive value, potential health benefits, and use in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Many areas of the world use sea cucumbers in traditional foods and folk medicine. Though the actual components and their specific functions still remain to be investigated, most sea cucumber extracts are being studied for their anti-inflammatory functions, immunostimulatory properties, and for cancer prevention and treatment. There is large scope for the discovery of additional bioactive, valuable compounds from this natural source. Sea cucumber extracts contain unique components, such as modified triterpene glycosides, sulfated polysaccharides, glycosphingolipids, and esterified phospholipids. Frondanol A5, an isopropyl alcohol/water extract of the enzymatically hydrolyzed epithelia of the edible North Atlantic sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa, contains monosulfated triterpenoid glycoside Frondoside A, the disulfated glycoside Frondoside B, the trisulfated glycoside Frondoside C, 12-methyltetradecanoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and fucosylated chondroitin sulfate. We have extensively studied the efficacy of this extract in preventing colon cancer in rodent models. In this review, we discuss the anti-inflammatory, immunostimulatory, and anti-tumor properties of sea cucumber extracts.

Keywords: Frondanol A5; aberrant crypt foci; anti-inflammation; colon cancer; sea cucumber.

Figure 1

Bioactive components of sea cucumber extracts and their biological effects on various human cancer cells and cancer animal models.

Figure 2

Sea cucumber and its various effects on molecular targets and over all response upon treatment in in vitro and in vivo cancer models.

Figure 3

Bioactive compounds isolated from sea cucumbers show immunomodulatory effects and improved immune responses by modulating innate immune cells. * Frondanol A5 consists of monosulfated triterpenoid glycoside Frondoside A, disulfated glycoside Frondoside B, trisulfated glycoside Frondoside C, eicosapentaenoic acid, 12-methyltetradecanoic acid, and fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, as well as canthaxanthin/astaxanthin in small quantities.