For the first time, scientists at the Institute of Natural Compound Chemistry have discovered that the golden sea urchin contains numerous compounds with potential medicinal properties, and they are working on extraction methods.
The golden sea urchin, also known as “sea hedgehog” or “sea urchin”, has the scientific name Tripneuster gratilla. In the waters of Vietnam, the golden sea urchin is typically found in rocky seabeds and coral reefs in various regions such as Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and especially in Khanh Hoa, including the Truong Sa archipelago.
Professor Dr. Pham Quoc Long, Chairman of the Scientific Council at the Institute of Natural Compound Chemistry, noted that the eggs of the golden sea urchin are rich in fats, proteins, and trace elements beneficial to human health.
In their research, scientists collected samples of golden sea urchins from Hon Tam Island, Nha Trang, to survey and analyze many chemical components, including protein content, amino acids, lipid levels, fatty acids, and phospholipids.
The team discovered seven classes of lipids from this organism. Over 200 molecular forms of phospholipids in the eggs and body of the golden sea urchin were isolated and identified using high-performance gas chromatography mass spectrometry. “These data are the first findings in lipid samples from the body and eggs of the golden sea urchin Tripneuster gratilla,” said Professor Long.
Notably, in the nutritional composition of the golden sea urchin, the research group found that the eggs of this marine organism contain up to 12.45% protein in total fresh samples, which is 3.5 times higher than that found in the body and exceeds the protein content of the black sea urchin (Dialema savignyi), also found in Hon Tam.
Sea urchins are a popular seafood. (Photo: Ha Lam).
“The protein in golden sea urchin eggs is an excellent source of protein,” Professor Long shared. However, if consumed solely as a food source for protein, the biological value of this product is not high.
Therefore, Professor Long and his colleagues experimented with various hydrolysis processes of the protein in golden sea urchin eggs using Alcalase enzyme. Hydrolysis breaks down large protein molecules, resulting in a highly absorbable bioactive protein product.
By utilizing enzyme hydrolysis technology, the scientists optimized the processes of isolation, extraction, and packaging of beneficial chemical components in the eggs of the golden sea urchin.
“Using Alcalase enzyme for protein hydrolysis will create free amino acids, oligopeptides, peptides, and low molecular weight proteins with high biological activity,” according to the research team.
In the optimization process, scientists achieved an extraction yield of golden sea urchin egg powder at 10.02%. Analysis of this powder showed that the soluble protein content of the product reached 74.67% (dry sample). Additionally, golden sea urchin egg powder contains 17 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids, with notably high levels of lysine at 4.965%. The fatty acid composition is diverse, containing three essential fatty acids: AA (9.85%); EPA (7.18%); and DHA (2.51%).
Tests on mice indicated that golden sea urchin egg powder has low toxicity and is safe for health. Due to the high carotenoid content in golden sea urchin eggs, it also helps to scavenge superoxide anion free radicals in mouse serum, thereby slowing the aging process.
With high nutritional and medicinal value, scientists hope that the eggs of the golden sea urchin (Tripneuster gratilla) found in the waters of Vietnam could become a valuable raw material for producing health protection foods, functional foods, and even medicinal products.
