Sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) represents an important seafood whose consumption is becoming popular around the world because of their bioactive compounds (polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential amino acids, minerals, proteins, etc.), which have many human health benefits.
The increasing market demand and retail prices of up to USD 300–500 kg-1 (dried), has led to an exploitation often indiscriminant and excessive with a reduction of sea cucumber stocks. Although information on food composition is essential for market exchange and for consumer protection, only a few studies refer to the nutritional profile of sea cucumbers.
In this study, the nutritional properties of body wall and gonad of Holothuria polii male and female collected from central Mediterranean Sea, were analysed. Specimens of H. polii were collected from an area of Mar Grande in Taranto (Ionian Sea, southern Italy) by scuba diving, during October-November 2019.
In general, Holothuria polii was found to have low fat and high protein contents so, can be considered as a dietetic food. The H. polii species was rich in terms of PUFA, especially the gonad of female. Arachidonic acid (20:4 n6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n3), which are significant for nutrition are present in highest concentration. This sea cucumber species was a good source of Essential Aminoacids (EAA) and an ideal nutritional seafood for human consumption. The
EAA/Total AA ratio of H. polii was in the range 45.4-59.8%, with the highest value in the gonad of female.
Therefore H. polii could be take into account for its potential culture.