Sea Cucumber (beche-de-mer, haishen, holothurian, trepang)

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