Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Seasonal and Tissue‐Specific Metabolic Shifts in Holothuria cinerascens

TL;DR

This study uses advanced techniques to explore the chemical diversity in a sea cucumber species from South Africa, revealing tissue-specific and seasonal metabolic patterns.

Contribution

The first untargeted metabolomic analysis of Holothuria cinerascens, highlighting tissue-specific and seasonal metabolic shifts.

Findings

The body wall showed high metabolite diversity, including amino acids and potential triterpene glycosides.

The gut/mesentery had elevated sugars and glycerol, possibly linked to diet or microbial activity.

Seasonal variations were most notable in the gonad and gut/mesentery, likely due to reproduction and food availability.

Abstract

Sea cucumbers are valuable marine invertebrates known for their biologically active compounds with health‐promoting properties. However, research has largely focused on select high‐value species, overlooking others with promising bioactive potential. This study presents the first untargeted metabolomic analysis of Holothuria cinerascens from KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa, using 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultra performance liquid chromatography quadruple time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–QTOF–MS) to assess metabolic and seasonal variability across three tissues: body wall, gonad and gut/mesentery. The body wall exhibited the highest metabolite diversity, with elevated levels of amino acids and potential triterpene glycosides, likely linked to stress or defence responses, whereas the gut/mesentery showed higher levels of sugars (galactose, xylose) and glycerol, possibly reflecting energy metabolism, diet or microbial activity. The gonad showed the lowest overall metabolite abundance but the highest levels of betaine and pyruvate. Seasonal differences were most pronounced in the gonad and gut/mesentery, likely related to reproductive activity and increased food availability. Compound identification was limited by structural isomerism and gaps in holothurian literature and databases, leaving several metabolites unidentified. These findings highlight the untapped potential of H. cinerascens and underscore the need to expand holothurian research. Future studies should prioritise compound characterisation and examine environmental influences on metabolite profiles to inform sustainable cultivation practices and natural product discovery.

Untargeted metabolic profiling of three body tissues from Holothuria cinerascens in South Africa using 1H‐NMR and UPLC–QTOF–MS revealed distinct tissue‐specific and seasonal metabolic variations, with the body wall and gut/mesentery exhibiting high metabolite diversity. Findings highlight the bioactive potential of underexplored species and support future research into holothurian natural product discovery and sustainable aquaculture.

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