Sea cucumber is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a number of health problems, including fatigue, impotence and joint pain. Sea cucumber contains high levels of chondroitin sulfate, a major component of cartilage. Sea cucumber also contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds.

The sea cucumber,  produces the protein lectin, which impairs the development of the malarial parasite. By fusing part of the gene which produces lectin to a gene from a mosquito, the insect would then produce lectin. The results are very positive and show that the technique is effective against several of the parasites which cause malaria.

Research is currently under way to learn whether some compounds made by sea cucumbers may be helpful against cancer. Compounds called triterpenoids have shown some promise in laboratory studies in slowing cancer cell growth and in stopping the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. In another early laboratory study, a fatty acid (12-MTA) that came from a sea cucumber was found to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Sea cucumber also known as bêche-de-mer, holothurians, or trepang,is a special delicacy eaten worldwide. It can be eaten sliced raw in ponzu sauce, lightly toasted over a flame and in many other ways.

Sea cucumbers actually have a peptide formed from collagen that softens their body’s wall tissue as a defense from predators. It is an ingredient for anti-aging creams.