What high-value components and bioactives can be found in sea cucumbers?

Sea cucumbers, belonging to the class Holothuroidea, are marine invertebrates, habitually found in the benthic areas and deep seas across the world. They have long been used for food and folk medicine in Asia and the Middle East. [1]

In addition to their culinary appeal, modern science has confirmed that the health benefits of sea cucumbers are derived from a variety of valuable substances such as saponins, sulfated polysaccharides, peptides, fucoidan, condroitin sulfates, collagen, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. [1] [2]

Sea cucumbers have been linked to a number of potential health benefits, including anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-fatigue and immune functions, anti-hypertension, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-thrombolic, would healing promotion properties. [1] [2] [3]

[1] Bordbar, Sara; Anwar, Farooq; Saari, Nazamid. "High-Value Components and Bioactives from Sea Cucumbers for Functional Foods - A Review." 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210605/

[2] Pangestui, Ratih; Arifin, Zainal. "Medicinal and health benefit effects of functional sea cucumbers." Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S222541101730069X

[3] Kubala, Jillian. "Sea Cucumber: An Unusual Food With Health Benefits." 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sea-cucumber