Comparative analysis of nutritive composition between wild and cultured sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicas

We determined the contents of ash, salt, crude protein, glycosaminoglycan, collagen, saponin and composition of amino acids as well as 11 kinds of elements in the body wall between wild and cultured sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicas). The results show that in wild and cultured sea cucumber, the content of collagen protein (w/w, dry weight) is 39.43% and 40.37%, respectively, without significant difference (P＞0.05). There is significant difference in the contents of salt, glycosaminoglycan and saponin (18.47% and 15.40%，10.19% and 9.27%, 0.81% and 0.62%, respectively) (P＜0.05). Very significant difference is found in the contents of ash and crude protein (25.73% and 20.74%, 58.80% and 62.21%, respectively) (P＜0.01). The content of essential acids is 21.16% and 20.28%, respectively, with significant difference (P＜0.05). There is very significant difference in the contents of flavor amino acids and drug-effective amino acids (30.86% and 28.00%, 33.66% and 30.39%, respectively) (P＜0.01). Sea cucumber is rich in mineral elements; there are more trace elements in wildones than cultured ones. The contents of heavy metals (Pb, Hg and Cd) in wild and cultured sea cucumber are lower than the limits of relevant food hygiene standards. In conclusion,cultured and wild sea cucumber is high nutritive containingrich collagen protein, glycosaminoglycan, mineral elements as well asflavor and drug-effective amino acids.