Abstract
Sea cucumbers, a class of marine echinoderms, are traditionally used as a culinary delicacy, as well as in medicine, in particular in Asia. However, the scientific exploration of their potential health benefits lags behind. This project aims to bridge this gap by comprehensively investigating the bioactive constituents of commercially relevant Holothuria sea cucumber species.
Objectives:
- Perform a non-targeted chemical profiling of Holothuria extracts using UHPLC-HRMS.
- Screen extracts for anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities.
- Purify, isolate and elucidate the structures of promising bioactive compounds.
- Assess the biotransformation of active constituents after oral intake using an in vitro gastrointestinal dialysis model (GIDM).
- Identify potential marker compounds for the chemotaxonomic classification of Holothuria species.
Significance:
This research holds promise for:
- Uncovering novel bioactive compounds from sea cucumbers with potential applications in functional foods or drug discovery.
- Providing a scientific basis for the use of sea cucumbers in traditional medicine.
- Developing tools to support the sustainable use of sea cucumber populations, more specifically by assessing the potential of chemotaxonomic classification.
Methodology:
Various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques (flash chromatography, HPLC-DAD, semi-preparative LC-DAD-MS, NMR) in combination with a series of in vitro bioassays to assess anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and cytotoxic properties will be employed. Multivariate statistical analysis will guide the isolation and structure elucidation of bioactive compounds. Using the GIDM model, their stability and absorption characteristics in the gastrointestinal tract will be evaluated. Marker compounds for species identification will be identified through UHPLC-HRMS and NMR analysis.
Expected Outcomes:
- Identification and characterization of novel bioactive compounds from sea cucumbers.
- Increased understanding of the gastrointestinal biotransformation of fractions and bioactive compounds from sea cucumbers
- Initiating a robust approach for the chemotaxonomic classification of Holothuria species, which may contribute to the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources.
This research project aligns with the NatuRAPT group's mission to explore natural products with human health benefits. It expands the group's expertise into marine bioactive compounds and paves the way for future research in this domain.
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