Saponins of North Atlantic Sea Cucumber: Chemistry, Health Benefits, and Future Prospectives

Abstract

Frondosides are the major saponins (triterpene glycosides) of the North Atlantic sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa). Frondosides possess amphiphilic characteristics due to the presence of various hydrophilic sugar moieties and hydrophobic genin (sapogenin). Saponins are abundant in holothurians, especially in sea cucumbers that are widely distributed across the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Over 300 triterpene glycosides have been isolated, identified, and categorized from many species of sea cucumbers. Furthermore, specific saponins from C. frondosa are broadly classified into frondosides, fallaxosides, lefevreiosides, cucumariosides, and colochirosides. Recent studies have shown that frondoside-containing extracts from C. frondosa exhibit anticancer, anti-obesity, anti-hyperuricemic, anticoagulant, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiangiogenic, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. However, the exact mechanism(s) of action of biological activities of frondosides is not clearly understood. The function of some frondosides as chemical defense molecules need to be understood. Therefore, this review discusses the different frondosides of C. frondosa and their potential therapeutic activities in relation to the postulated mechanism(s) of action. In addition, recent advances in emerging extraction techniques of frondosides and other saponins and future perspectives are discussed.

Sea Cucumber and Blueberry Extracts Suppress Inflammation and Reduce Acute Lung Injury through the Regulation of NF-κB/MAPK/JNK Signaling Pathway in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated C57BL/6 Mice

“…Sea cucumbers possess anti-inflammatory properties with effects on soft tissue repairs [33]. They contain omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, whose action inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandin by suppressing the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase under inflammatory conditions [29,69]. The heparin analogs of sea cucumber, Styela plicata (pleated sea squirt), have also been reported to possess an anti-inflammatory effect on colon inflammation in rat models [34,70].…”

“…Natural products and food bioactives with low toxicity and minimal side effects have been postulated as novel alternative ALI treatments [15,23]. Two such natural products are sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa) [28,29] and wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) [30]. C. frondosa contains many nutrients and bioactive compounds, namely amino acids, cerebrosides, collagen, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and saponins, which demonstrate its unique pharmacological and biological activities.…”

“…C. frondosa contains many nutrients and bioactive compounds, namely amino acids, cerebrosides, collagen, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and saponins, which demonstrate its unique pharmacological and biological activities. Bioactives of C. frondosa can act as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory agents [28,29]. The mechanism of action of saponins (primarily frondoside A) found in C. frondosa is postulated to include the inhibition of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and enzymes cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) by PI3K/AKT/ERK1/2/p38 MAPK, RAC/CDC42 PAK1, and LXR-β signaling pathways [29,[31][32][33][34].…”

“…Bioactives of C. frondosa can act as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory agents [28,29]. The mechanism of action of saponins (primarily frondoside A) found in C. frondosa is postulated to include the inhibition of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and enzymes cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) by PI3K/AKT/ERK1/2/p38 MAPK, RAC/CDC42 PAK1, and LXR-β signaling pathways [29,[31][32][33][34]. Therefore, natural molecules of C. frondosa that can reduce cytokine storms as well as the levels and/or concentrations of cyclooxygenases are potential drug candidates for ALI.…”

The Potential of Saponin in Sea Cucumbers to Prevent Hyperlipidemia

“…Secara keseluruhan senyawa bioaktif yang ditemukan dalam teripang memiliki potensial dalam pengembangan obat dan terapi baru. Penelitian lebih lanjut perlu dilakukan untuk memahami mekanisme dan potensial aksi dari saponin yang ada pada teripang (Fagbohun et al, 2023).…”