Technological and biofunctional potential of sea cucumber-derived macromolecular carbohydrates and proteins - A review

The craving for biodegradable sea biopolymers is growing as a result of ecological concerns over the use of non-renewable resources. Sea biopolymers are becoming more popular as sustainable alternatives across multiple industry sectors, covering the food sector. Sea cucumbers are a peculiar and remarkable aquatic animal species that have been extensively studied for the presence of these sustainable biopolymers, proteins, and polysaccharides, for instance. Biopolymers derived from sea cucumbers have significant biological advantages, such as anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. They are also biocompatible and biodegradable. Researchers have been investigating techniques for extracting and purifying biopolymers produced from sea cucumbers due to their excellent nutraceutical, medicinal, and cosmeceutical properties linked to their biopolymeric potential. The biotechnological and food-pharma sectors benefit from sea cucumber species, in the supply of natural chemicals for antibiotic resistance. A life cycle assessment evaluates sea cucumbers' environmental impact, recommending sustainable practices, energy-efficient processing, and waste management. This article provides a thorough and up-to-date update on sea cucumber-derived biopolymers, including sea cucumber-derived proteins (SCPt) and sea cucumber-derived polysaccharides (SCPs), as well as their uses as novel functional foods and therapeutic agents.