SEA Cucumber Collagen - Premium Mast Pack

Abstract

Cosmeceutical, a new term in the cosmetic industry, refers to cosmetic products that contain active ingredients and have medicinal benefits. Cosmeceuticals have attracted increased attention because of their beneficial effects on human health. Sea cucumbers, belonging to the class Holothuroidea, marine invertebrates, are rich in bioactive compounds, including saponin, chondroitin sulphate, collagen, amino acids, and phenols. These bioactive compounds have diverse functional roles as a secondary metabolite and these properties can be applied to the developments of novel cosmeceuticals. This review provides an overview the application of sea cucumber derivatives for cosmeceuticals. Further, prospects and trends of sea cucumber in cosmeceuticals industry were also discussed. The proper development of sea cucumber bioactive compounds will be helpful in cosmeceutical product development and industry.

Keywords: sea cucumber; cosmeceuticals; prospects; trends; industry

1. Introduction

Marine environment, due to its incredible biodiversity, is an excellent reservoir of bioactive compounds with numerous health benefit effects. In recent years, extensive studies have been conducted to explore biological activities, nutritional value, and potential health benefits of marine-based bioactive substances. To date, a series of promising marine-derived substances have been widely applied in food and pharmaceutical industry. Following the same trend, the search of novel bioactive substances from marine resources as ingredients in cosmetics has gained attention. Cosmetics are defined as articles intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting body structure or functions [1]. Nowadays greater attention has been paid to cosmeceuticals. It is a combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, containing active ingredients in creams, lotions, and ointments [2]. These products are formulated with ingredients that can promote healthy skin, hair, and nails at cellular levels. Interestingly, a great deal of interest has been developed by consumers toward marine derivatives as cosmeceutical ingredients, due to the unique structures and pharmaceutical properties.

Sea cucumbers, also known as holothurians, are marine invertebrates which have been used as a culinary delicacy, particularly in some parts of Asia [3]. The consumption of sea cucumbers is thought to boost the immune system and to have aphrodisiac properties. They are soft and cylindrical-bodied echinoderms that feed on microscopic algae, absorbing nutrients from the organic matter [4]. Sea cucumbers contain high protein levels, low sugar and fat content, and no cholesterol [5]. They are also rich in bioactive compounds which exhibit numerous medicinal benefits and health functions, especially the triterpene glycosides (saponins) [6,7,8], chondroitin sulphates [9,10], glycosaminoglycan [11,12], sulphated polysaccharides [13,14,15,16], sterols (glycosides and sulphates) [17], phenolics [18], peptides [19], cereberosides [20], and lectins [21,22,23] (Figure 1). Therefore, sea cucumbers have been well recognized as a tonic and trad