Comparison of biochemical composition of commercial sea cucumbers, Apostichopus japonicus and Parastichopus californicus, under the same culture conditions.

Background: Apostichopus japonicus and Parastichopus californicus are two of the most important and profitable commercial sea cucumbers along the North Pacific coast. This study compared the body wall production rate (BWPR), proximate composition, amino acid, fatty acid, trace element and vitamin composition, and nonspecific immune enzyme activities of A. japonicus and P. californicus cultured in an artificial pond.

Results: The BWPR, crude fat and ash content in the body walls of A. japonicus and P. californicus showed remarkable differences (P < 0.05). For the 18 amino acids tested, differences in the contents of 15 were significant (P < 0.05) between the two species, except for threonine, methionine and histidine, and their first limiting amino acids were both methionine+cysteine. There were seven saturated and ten unsaturated fatty acids in their body walls, and except for 18:1 and 20:1, the content differences of the other 15 fatty acids were all significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, between the two sea cucumbers, differences in the content of seven trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Se) and six vitamins (B1, B3, B5, B9, C, E) were significant (P < 0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) also showed distinct differences (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: There are greater differences in the biochemical compositions and contents between A. japonicus and P. californicus, each with its own unique quality advantages. A. japonicus and P. californicus have high nutritional value, which are both the superior sea cucumbers. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.