Sea Cucumber
Cucumaria frondosa
There are many different species of sea cucumber and most of these species have compounds that are beneficial to health. Since ancient times, sea cucumbers have been revered by Asian cultures as a functional food and a medicinal agent for the prevention and treatment of disease, for health giving properties and as a longevity tonic. Traditional Chinese Medicine commonly uses sea cucumber for the treatment of weakness, debility of the aged and for joint problems.
In the past 15 years, many researchers, doctors and scientists have turned their attentions to investigating the science behind the health benefits of sea cucumbers. As demonstrated in several recently published, peer-reviewed research papers, modern science is beginning to explain and document these benefits with hard scientific evidence. Researchers are not only characterizing the activity of certain sea cucumber components at the cellular and gene levels, but are also identifying links and pathways to use this safe and natural alternative to fight modern diseases.
The purpose of this article is to look at the extensive profile of naturally occurring, bio-marine components and nutrients present in one particular sea cucumber species, Cucumaria frondosa. It is also to investigate the potential health benefits offered by Cucumaria frondosa to humans and animals and the emerging science supporting what was previously only anecdotal evidence.
Why is Cucumaria frondosa UNIQUE?
Also called the Atlantic sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondose (C. frondosa) is common to cold waters along the eastern seaboard of North America. It is known to be a valuable natural source of many cell-supportive components like antioxidants, carotenoids, fatty acids, novel marine elements, amino acids, proteins, vitamins and minerals 1-6. The nutrient content of C. frondosa is extremely broad, offering bio-activity specific to this species.
The modes of action and applications of C. frondosa (and its active constituents) are far reaching. Increasingly, C. frondose is being investigated in such diverse areas as cellular immunity, inflammation, antioxidant effects, antibacterial activity, energy levels as well as cancer prevention and treatment. Nutritional supplements containing C. frondosa for both humans and animals can be found worldwide for support of joints, mobility, skin, energy and vitality. There are also numerous global patents held for C. frondosa’s unique properties.
For example, over the past 6 years, the scientists at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, have been working with C. frondosa. They believe that it produces several active compounds, one of which has been used to eradicate cancerous tumors in mice.¹ Dr Sehamuddin Galadari, Associate Dean for Research at UAE University, and his colleagues believe that these natural anti-cancer compounds may have fewer side effects on patients than do the currently used chemotherapies. In a recent article published in The National, ² he was quoted as saying “It’s about finding the best possible treatment with the least side effects. With previous treatments, you could damage healthy parts of the body in the same way that antibiotics can kill the body’s good bacteria. Nature was the first pharmaceutical industry so we must ask, is there a lesson we can learn from this?”
REFERENCES:
- . Li X, Roginsky AB, Ding X-Z, Woodward C, Collin P, Review of the apoptosis pathyways in pancreatic cancer and the anti-apoptotic effects of the novel sea cucumber compound, Frondoside A. Ann NY Acad Sci 2008; 1138:181-198.
- Swan, Melanie. Cancer cure could lie deep in ocean, The National the emirates, April 4, 2009.