Exploring the pharmaceutical potential of discarded ink glands from Amphioctopus aegina
Amphioctopus aegina; antioxidant activity; cephalopod ink glands; Marine bioactive compounds; marine pharmacology; sustainable valorization of seafood waste
Ocean is called the Natural Medicine Chest of the New Millennium, as it encompasses diverse marine ecosystems that are rich in bioactive compounds. One of the fascinating organisms is cephalopods as they are known for their inking capabilities. The ink, composed mainly of melanin and mucous, has garnered attention for its diverse bioactive properties. In addition to melanin, components like Quinones, 8-hydroxy-4-quinolone, and various amino acids exhibit anti-oxidant and other therapeutic activities. Researches have shown that cephalopod ink can possess anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-hypertensive, anti-ulcerogenic, and antiretroviral properties. However, these ink glands are discarded in the seafood industry. Amphioctopus aegina is one of the octopus species found in Indian waters and is less explored. This study was conducted to explore the chemical composition and pharmaceutical properties of the discarded ink glands of A. aegina. The study revealed the gland of this organism to be rich in bioactive compounds like alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids. Antioxidant studies revealed both aqueous and ethanol extracts showed good antioxidant capability, with remarkable radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values-65.76 g/mL and 51.7 g/mL respectively. The extracts also showed moderate inhibition of protein denaturation and were non-toxic to RAW264.7 cell lines. These findings highlight A. aegina ink as a promising source of therapeutic biomolecules and offer a sustainable approach for valorizing cephalopod waste. 2026, ScienceIn Publishing. All rights reserved.
Sahana, Gandasi Ravikumar; Joseph, Biljo V.
Journal of Integrated Science and Technology;Volume;14;Issue;2;Article No.;1520;
https://doi.org/10.62110/sciencein.jist.2026.v14.1520 https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030161621?origin=resultslist
Sahana G.R., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Karnataka, Bangalore, 560 029, India; Joseph B.V., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Karnataka, Bangalore, 560 029, India