Bioactivity and chemical characterization of gonads of green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis from Barents Sea

The gonads of sea urchins have been consumed by humans since ancient times. However, relatively little information is available on their biological activity. In the present study, we have consecutively extracted gonads of green sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis from Barents Sea with chloroform-95% EtOH (4:1, v/v), (fraction ESD1), 95% EtOH (ESD2), and 70% EtOH (ESD3), characterized the fractions by GC-MS and HPLC, and further investigated their bioactivities. The cyclooxygenase-2 was inhibited by 62% with ESD1 and by 39% with ESD2. All the extracts from gonads significantly prevented the decrease in body weight of mice having streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced (STZ/NA) diabetes. ESD2 significantly reduced serum glucose level in mice after 5 days of administration. The 50% inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV was observed at a dose of 20 µg/ml of ESD2. These results suggest that sea urchin gonads may serve as a functional food for the management of inflammatory diseases and diabetes.