Apostichopus japonicus

Yang, H. S., Yuan, X. T., Zhou, Y., Mao, Y. Z., Zhang, T., and Liu, Y. (2005). Effects of body size and water temperature on food consumption and growth in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) with special reference to aestivation. Aquae. Res. 36, 1085-1092. 

Zhang, C. Y., Wang, Y. G., and Rong, X. J. (2006). Isolation and identification of causative pathogen for skin ulcerative syndrome in Apostichopus japonicus. J. Fish. Sci. China. 1, 118-123. 

Holothurin" is active in vitro against Amoeba proteus [24], holotoxins from Apostichopus japonicus are active against Trichomonas vaginalis [52]. The data on antiprotozoal activity of glycosides of Cucumaria echinata [49] were discussed above. These data were correlated with antifungal activities of the glycosides. 

Hypodermic injection into rats of a mixture of saponins from Apostichopus japonicus (at doses 0.1 and 1 mg/kg), in contrast with holothurin A (101), causes a contraceptive effect in 50 and 28 % cases, respectively [92]. 

Holothurin A (39), holothurin B (105), holothurin A2 (57) isolated from sea cucumbers belonging to the family Holothuriidae and holotoxin Ai (33) from Apostichopus japonicus stimulated both the incorporation of H-Thd into mice spleen T- and B-spleenocytes in vitro in dose dependent manner in concentration range of 0.01-01 pg/ml and amplified the effect of spleenocytes blast-transformation induced by ConA or phytohemagglutinin [95]. Nevertheless, the preparation Cumaside based on complex of monosulfated glycosides from Cucumaria japonica with cholesterol did not so significantly affect proliferative activity of human blood lymphocytes compared to phytohemagglutinin. Namely Cumaside stimulated lymphocyte proliferation only in 1.2-2 times at concentration of 0.1 and 1 pg/ml [96, 97]. 

As it was already mentioned above, glycosides from Cucumaria japonica demonstrate a restorative effect in mice with acquired immunodeficiency induced by radiation [102]. Individual triterpene glycoside cucumarioside A2-2 (18) from C. japonica and glycoside preparation trepangin from the Far Eastern sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus showed radioprotective properties while cucumarioside A2-2 was significantly more active in this respect. Survival of lethally radiated mice (y-rays, Cs at 7.7 GR, 5-10 min) after glycoside 18 administration at the dose of 1 pg/kg was about 40 % over control and after 60 min radiation was about 20 %. The restoration of hemopoesis was observed in the radiated glycoside-dosed animals [108]. 

Fig. 14.1 (a) Sea cucumbers processed as beche-de-mer (eviscerated, boiled and dried) in the Phihppines. (b) Dry sea cucumber products (beche-de-mer) for sale in Qingdao, China, (c) Fresh sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus) sold in DaUan, China, (d) Sea cncumber-based nutritional supplement sold in specialized bontiqnes in Yantai, China. Photos courtesy of J.-F. Hamel and A. Mercier. 

These three species are from three distinct parts of the world oceans and are considered the most valuable sea cucumber species on the markets today they are also the species on which aquaculture programs have focused. Apostichopus japonicus is a temperate species found on rocky bottoms (sometimes on sandy or muddy substrates near the shore) along... 

Fig. 14.4 (a) Tanks used to rear the larvae of Isostichopus fuscus (Ecuador), (b) Conditioning of settlement sheets for 7. fuscus in large tanks exposed to the sun (Mexico), (c) In some cases, post-settled juveniles are allowed to feed on the conditioned substrates (polypropylene cloth) for the first days or weeks of their growth. Juveniles of Apostichopus japonicus are visible as dark spots on the exposed cloth (China), (d) Undulated plastic sheets are also used to favor settlement of sea cucumber larvae (China, Ecuador, many countries of the Indo-Pacific). Photos courtesy of J.-F. Hamel and A. Mercier. 

HUILING S, MENGQING L, JiNGPiNG Y and BUUAN c (2004) Nutrient requirements and growth of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, in Lovatelli A, Conand C, Purcell S, Uthicke S, Hamel J-F and Mercier A (eds), Advances in Sea Cucumber Aquaculture and Management, Fisheries Technical Paper No. 463. Rome FAO, 327-332. 

SEO J-Y and lee s-m (2011) Optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for growth of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Aquaculture Nutrition, 17,56-61. 

Some triterpene glycosides from holothurians belonging to the family Stichopodidae show also antitumor activities [67, 60]. Holotoxin Al (33) from Apostichopus (=Stichopus) japonicus inhibited the growth of the solid form of Ehrlich tumor and Sarcoma-37 in mice on 37-65 and 13-53 %, respectively, at doses of 1.25 and 2.50 mg/kg. Triterpene glycosides from Holothuria forskali have cytotoxic activities against tumor cells [68]. 

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