Sea Cucumber (beche-de-mer, haishen, holothurian, trepang)
Classes: Musculoskeletal, Herbals; Oncology, Herbals
Suggested dosing of Beche-de-mer, haishen (sea cucumber)
See Mfr's instructions
Suggested uses of Beche-de-mer, haishen (sea cucumber)
Cancer, arthritis, impotence, urinary frequency
Efficacy
In vitro studies show potential; few clinical trials to verify medicinal claims but pharmaceutical companies have shown interest; used in traditional Asian medicine
Beche-de-mer, haishen (sea cucumber) adverse (side) effects
Generally well-tolerated
Warnings
Cautions
Seafood allergy
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: N/A
Lactation: N/A
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Beche-de-mer, haishen (sea cucumber)
Metabolism: N/A
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of action
12-methyltetradecanoic acid, a branched-chain fatty acid isolated from sea cucumber, is thought to inhibit prostate cancer cell proliferation by increasing caspase-3 activity
Philinopside A, a saponin derived from sea cucumber, is antiangiogenic & antineoplastic in vitro presumably by inhibiting tyrosine kinase
Rich in muciopolysaccharides, esp chondroitin sulfate, useful for arthritis