Traditional Chinese Medicine——Sea Urchin

Abstract

The sea urchin is an ancient, common, seafloor-dwelling marine invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Echinodermata. There are multiple species of sea urchin with resources that are widely distributed in China, where they were used in ancient times as Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating a variety of diseases. At present, it is known that the shell, spine and gonad of the sea urchin have many medicinal values determined through modern research. In this paper, we summarized the major chemical constituents and medicinal value of the sea urchin.

Diversity of Polyhydroxynaphthoquinone Pigments in North Pacific Sea Urchins

“…These are rich in bioactive compounds, which can be used for many biomedical applications. In traditional Chinese medicine, sea urchin shells were used for heart diseases treatment and for the resolution of phlegm . Korean researchers showed the anti‐diabetic effect of powdered sea urchin shells on type 2 diabetic rats .…”

“…Korean researchers showed the anti‐diabetic effect of powdered sea urchin shells on type 2 diabetic rats . Minerals from the shells can be used for replacing and reconstruction of damaged or defective hard tissue; polysaccharides from the shells possess an anti‐inflammatory effect; and proteins from the shells and spines demonstrate antitumour activity . Secondary metabolites specific to sea urchins – polyhydroxynaphthoquinones (PHNQs) – also exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities.…”

“…In traditional Chinese medicine, sea urchin shells were used for heart diseases treatment and for the resolution of phlegm. [1] Korean researchers showed the anti-diabetic effect of powdered sea urchin shells on type 2 diabetic rats. [2] Minerals from the shells can be used for replacing and reconstruction of damaged or defective hard tissue; [3 -5] polysaccharides from the shells possess an anti-inflammatory effect; [6] and proteins from the shells and spines demonstrate antitumour activity.…”

“…[2] Minerals from the shells can be used for replacing and reconstruction of damaged or defective hard tissue; [3 -5] polysaccharides from the shells possess an anti-inflammatory effect; [6] and proteins from the shells and spines demonstrate antitumour activity. [1] Secondary metabolites specific to sea urchinspolyhydroxynaphthoquinones (PHNQs)also exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. For example, the extract of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis shells, which contain PHNQ pigments, demonstrated antiallergic effects.…”

Polysaccharide Constituents of Three Types of Sea Urchin Shells and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities

“…Sea urchins consist of shells and gonads. The sea urchin shells contain minerals (>90%), proteins, polysaccharides and pigments, while sea urchin gonads consist of, for instance, polysaccharides, fatty acid, and proteins [11]. To this end, scholars have paid more attention to the pharmacological activities and chemical constituents of sea urchin gonads.…”