Echinochrome A Explained

Echinochrome A (7-ethyl-2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a polyhydroxylated 1,4-naphthoquinone,^[1] a type of pigments commonly found in sea urchin shell ("test"), spine, gonads, coelomic fluid, and eggs, of sea urchin.^[2] These type of pigments are commonly known as spinochromes and are natural marine phenolic compounds with potential pharmacological effects and modes of action.^[3]

First extracted from the sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis, it is the active substance of histochrome and Echino-A. Histochrome is used for ophthalmic diseases and ischemic heart disease. Echino-A has been used in nutraceutical form to diminish glucose levels, cholesterol and tryglicerides. The properties and the absence of adverse effects of echinochrome A as an antioxidant has made it the subject of scientific and clinical studies for more than 30 years.^{[4] [5] [6]}

The several hydroxyl groups have the ability to diminish reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, preventing redox imbalance. Echinochrome A has been found to target ophtalmologic, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, inflammatory and metabolic diseases through its biological functions by targeting specific molecular signals. The regulation effects produced by echinochrome A in the cells makes this molecule a candidate to improve health.^{[6] [7]} Sea urchins are known for their putative health properties for centuries, for example in the Materia medica of the Ming Dynasty authored by Li Zhongli in 1647.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Retrieved April 13, 2022
2. Anderson . H.A. . Mathieson . J.W. . Thomson . R.H. . Distribution of spinochrome pigments in echinoids . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology . January 1969 . 28 . 1 . 333–345 . 10.1016/0010-406X(69)91347-4. 5777380 .
3. Jeong . Seung . Kim . Hyoung . Song . In-Sung . Lee . Seon . Ko . Kyung . Rhee . Byoung . Kim . Nari . Mishchenko . Natalia . Fedoryev . Sergey . Stonik . Valentin . Han . Jin . Echinochrome A Protects Mitochondrial Function in Cardiomyocytes against Cardiotoxic Drugs . Marine Drugs . 13 May 2014 . 12 . 5 . 2922–2936 . 10.3390/md12052922. 24828295 . 4052324 . free .
4. Hou . Yakun . Vasileva . Elena A. . Carne . Alan . McConnell . Michelle . El-Din A. Bekhit . Alaa . Mishchenko . Natalia P. . Naphthoquinones of the spinochrome class: occurrence, isolation, biosynthesis and biomedical applications . RSC Advances . 2018 . 8 . 57 . 32637–32650 . 10.1039/C8RA04777D. 35547692 . 2018RSCAd...832637H . 105576241 . free . 9086473 .
5. Rubilar . Tamara . Barbieri . Elena S. . Gazquez . Ayelén . Avaro . Marisa . Sea Urchin Pigments: Echinochrome A and Its Potential Implication in the Cytokine Storm Syndrome . Marine Drugs . May 2021 . 19 . 5 . 267 . 10.3390/md19050267. 34064550 . 8151293 . free .
6. Kim . Hyoung Kyu . Vasileva . Elena A. . Mishchenko . Natalia P. . Fedoreyev . Sergey A. . Han . Jin . Multifaceted Clinical Effects of Echinochrome . Marine Drugs . August 2021 . 19 . 8 . 412 . 10.3390/md19080412. 34436251 . 8400489 . free .
7. Artyukov . Aleksandr A. . Zelepuga . Elena A. . Bogdanovich . Larisa N. . Lupach . Natalia M. . Novikov . Vyacheslav L. . Rutckova . Tatyana A. . Kozlovskaya . Emma P. . Marine Polyhydroxynaphthoquinone, Echinochrome A: Prevention of Atherosclerotic Inflammation and Probable Molecular Targets . Journal of Clinical Medicine . May 2020 . 9 . 5 . 1494 . 10.3390/jcm9051494. 32429179 . 7291202 . free .
8. Barbieri . Elena Susana . Rubilar . Tamara . Gázquez . Ayelén . Avaro . Marisa . Seiler . Erina Noé . Vera-Piombo . Mercedes . Gittardi . Agustín . Chaar . Florencia . Fernandez . Jimena Pía . Sepulveda . Lucas . Sea Urchin Pigments as Potential Therapeutic Agents Against the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Based on in Silico Analysis . 29 June 2020 . 10.26434/chemrxiv.12568595.v1. 11336/109300 . 225845754 . free . This content is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed