A Bio-processing Strategy for Full utilization of Sea cucumbers for Production of High Value Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals

海参在底栖区和深海都有发现，几十年来一直被用作食物和药物的来源。海洋中大约有1500种海参，占海底总生物量的90%。它们被用来治疗癌症、关节炎、肠道和小便功能障碍，并可导致免疫系统的增强。海参还具有抗血管生成、抗癌、抗凝、降压、抗炎、抗菌、抗氧化、抗血栓、抗肿瘤和伤口愈合等多种生物活性。在加拿大，商业海参捕捞始于2003年，分配量为454吨，2013年增加到2242吨。在加拿大大西洋最常见的海参品种是C. frondosa。海参包括体壁、生殖腺、呼吸道、花和皮肤。海参含有高价值的维生素和矿物质。海参还含有多种必需的高价值营养品和具有多种生物特性的药物，包括：胶原蛋白、明胶、蛋白质、氨基酸、omega-3脂肪酸、糖氨基聚糖（GAGs）、硫酸软骨素（集中）、三萜苷（皂素）、硫酸三萜苷、凝集素、硫酸多糖、甾醇、酚类、黄酮类、三萜低聚糖苷、糖蛋白、甾体皂苷和粘多糖。迄今为止，对各种海参进行的科学研究有限，对大西洋海参的研究还不多。加拿大大西洋地区的新兴渔业目前面临着经济和环境问题，这就需要发展生物加工战略，以生产各种高价值的营养保健品和海参药品，以提高海参渔业的可持续性，增加产品的经济性，并为特定应用生产功能性食品。本研究的重点是实施生物加工策略，以充分利用海参生产保健品和药品。这项工作包括(a)开发提取高价值产品的环保工艺，包括：胶原蛋白、明胶、硫酸软骨素、酚类和类黄酮；(b)测定提取产品的质量；(c)评估海参生物加工策略的可持续性和经济潜力。将在功能食品、生物技术、营养食品和药品等领域培养高素质人才（研究生和本科生）。

Sea cucumbers are found in both benthic areas and deep seas and have been used as a source of food and drug for decades. There are around 1500 sea cucumber species found in ocean forming 90% of total seabed biomass. They are used to treat cancer, arthritis and intestinal and urinal dysfunctions and can lead to increase in immune system. Sea cucumbers also possess a number of biological activities including anti-angiogenic, anticancer, anticoagulant, anti-hypertension, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antithrombotic, antitumor and wound healing properties. In Canada, commercial sea cucumber fisheries were initiated in 2003 with an allocation of 454 tons which increased to 2242 tons in 2013. The most common sea cucumber species found in Atlantic Canada is C. frondosa. Sea cucumbers comprise body wall, gonads, respiratory tract, flower and skin. Sea cucumber are composed of high value profile of vitamins and minerals. Sea cucumber also contains various essential high value nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals with various biological properties including: collagen, gelatin, protein, amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, glycosoaminoglycans (GAGs), chondroitin sulfate (fucosylated), triterpene glycosides (saponin), sulfated triterpene glycosides, lectin, sulfated polysaccharides, sterols, phenols, flavonoids, triterpene oligoglycosides, glycoprotein, steroidal sapogenins and mucopolysaccharides. Limited scientific research has so far been carried out on various species of sea cucumber and not much research has been done on Atlantic species. The emerging fishery in Atlantic Canada is currently facing economic and environmental issues which necessitated the need for the development of bioprocessing strategy for the production of various high value nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals from sea cucumber to improve the sustainability of sea cucumber fisheries, economics of value added products and produce functional foods for specific applications. The proposed research will focus on implementation of bioprocessing strategy for full utilization of sea cucumbers for production of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. The work consists of (a) development of environmentally friendly processes for the extraction of high value products including: collagen, gelatin, chondroitin sulfate and phenols and flavonoids (b) determination of the quality of the extracted products and (c) evaluate the sustainability and economic potential of the sea cucumber bioprocessing strategy. Highly qualified personnel (graduate and undergraduate students) will be trained in the fields of functional foods, biotechnology, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.