Sea cucumber body wall contains several naturally occurring bioactive components that possess health-promoting properties. Isostichopus badionotus from Yucatan, Mexico is heavily fished, but little is known about its bioactive constituents. We previously established that I. badionotus meal had potent anti-inflammatory properties in vivo. We have now screened some of its constituents for anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Glycosaminoglycan and soluble protein preparations reduced 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammatory responses in HaCaT cells while an ethanol extract had a limited effect. The primary glycosaminoglycan (fucosylated chondroitin sulfate; FCS) was purified and tested for anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. FCS modulated the expression of critical genes, including NF-ĸB, TNFα, iNOS, and COX-2, and attenuated inflammation and tissue damage caused by TPA in a mouse ear inflammation model. It also mitigated colonic colitis caused in mice by dextran sodium sulfate. FCS from I. badionotus of the Yucatan Peninsula thus had strong anti-inflammatory properties in vivo.

Low-molecular-weight peptides derived from the digestion of body wall proteins in some sea cucumber species have wound-healing and health-promoting properties, but their potency varies widely by species, growth environment, age, and season. For the first time, small peptide (1–3 kDa) fractions have been isolated from the whole-body wall of the sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus and its constituent collagen and tested for wound healing capacity in vitro. Ultrafiltered digests (1–3 kDa) of the pure collagen, as well as 1–3 kDa digests of the whole-body wall, had potent antioxidant activities and promoted rapid wound healing in a keratinocyte scratch wound assay. Gene expression studies suggested that the wound-healing actions of the individual collagen and body wall 1–3 kDa fractions differed significantly. Low-molecular-weight peptides derived from I. badionotus collagen did promote wound healing in vitro; however, their efficacy may have been modulated by additional factors produced during body wall or collagen digestion. These findings need to be confirmed in vivo.

Low-molecular-weight peptides derived by digestion of body wall proteins from some sea cucumber species have wound-healing and health-promoting properties. Sea cucumber body composition varies widely by species, growth environment, age and season, so it is unknown if all species contain the requisite bioactive peptides. For the first time, small peptide (1-3 kDa) fractions have been isolated from the whole-body wall of the sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus and its constituent collagen, and tested for wound healing capacity in vitro. The body wall comprised around 50% collagen, whose composition and structure were like, but not identical to, other sea cucumber collagens. Ultrafiltered digests (1-3 kDa) of the pure collagen and a further purified fraction of it, as well as a 1-3 kDa digest of whole-body wall, had potent antioxidant activities and promoted rapid wound healing in a keratinocyte scratch wound assay. Gene expression studies suggested that the wound-healing actions of the individual 1-3 kDa fractions differed significantly. Low-molecular-weight peptides derived from I. badionotus collagen did promote wound healing in vitro, however, their efficacy may have been modulated by additional factors produced during body wall or collagen digestion.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is widely used for biliopancreatic imaging; however, hyperintense gastrointestinal fluids in heavily T2-weighted sequences may interfere with visualization of the biliary and pancreatic ducts. Natural manganese-containing beverages have been investigated in MRCP-related imaging contexts, and yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) has been studied to this end. However, its concentration- and sequence-dependent signal behavior under MRCP-like phantom conditions remains insufficiently characterized. This preclinical phantom study evaluated the concentration- and sequence-dependent MRI signal intensity behavior of an aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis. The extract was characterized by means of elemental analysis, total manganese and iron quantification, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and LC-ESI-MS analysis. MRI phantom experiments were run at different extract concentrations using T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and single-shot turbo spin echo (SSHTSE) sequences. The dried extract contained 1.22 ± 0.04 mg/g total manganese and 0.40 ± 0.01 mg/g total iron. Calculated total Mn concentrations in phantom dilutions ranged from 0.06 to 0.97 mg/dL. The extract showed concentration- and sequence-dependent signal behavior, with T1-weighted signal enhancement and progressive signal suppression in T2-weighted and SSHTSE sequences. No T1/T2 mapping or r1/r2 relaxivity measurements were performed. LC-ESI-MS identified MS1-based putatively assigned phenolic features without MS/MS confirmation of extract peaks. Ilex paraguariensis aqueous extract showed preliminary concentration- and sequence-dependent MRI signal intensity changes under phantom conditions, including signal suppression in MRCP-like heavily T2-weighted sequences. These findings do not establish clinical applicability, safety, tolerability, comparative efficacy, or improved duct visualization. Further studies are needed, incorporating relaxometric measurements, comparator agents, formulation assessment, in vivo evaluation, and clinical validation.