Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Marine Invertebrates in Traditional Medicines

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine

Abstract

This chapter reviews the uses of marine invertebrates for medicinal purposes, based on an extensive literature survey. We identified at least 266 species which are prescribed to treat a number of diseases and conditions categories, especially those of the digestive and genitourinary systems. Among the medicinal species, 19 species feature on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List and/or are CITES-listed (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). This highlights the need to assess the impacts of zootherapy in the context of marine biodiversity conservation. Conservation efforts should also be directed to unprotected species, whose medicinal use is widespread. In addition to biological aspects, economical and sociocultural factors influence the relationship between people and zootherapeutical resources. Therefore, studies bridging ecological, anthropological, and pharmacological aspects of the medicinal use of animals should be fostered.

As an old saying in Western countries goes ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’, so now there is a new saying in China, ‘A sea cucumber a day keeps the doctor away’

(Chen 2003).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adeola MO (1992) Importance of wild animals and their parts in the culture, religious festivals, and traditional medicine, of Nigeria. Environ Conserv 19(2):125–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alino PM, Cajipe GJB, Ganzon-Fortes ET, Licuanan WRY, Montano NE, Tupas LM (1990) The use of marine organisms in folk medicine and horticulture: a preliminary study. Seaweed Information Center (SICEN). Supplement of SICEN Newsletter

    Google Scholar 

  • Almeida AV (2007) Zooterapia indígena brasileira do século XVIII nas obras de Guilherme Piso, Georg Marcgrave e Joannes de Laet. Sitientibus Série Ciências Biológicas 7(3):261–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Almeida AV, Alves AGC, Lucena RFP, Albuquerque UP (2005) Prescrições zooterápicas indígenas brasileiras nas obras de Guilherme Piso (1611–1678). In: Atualidades em Etnobiologia e Etnoecologia. Nupeea; Sociedade Brasileira de Etnobiologia e Etnoecologia, Recife

    Google Scholar 

  • Almeida CFCBR, Albuquerque UP (2002) Uso e conservação de plantas e animais medicinais no Estado de Pernambuco (Nordeste do Brasil): Um estudo de caso. Interciencia 27(6):276–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN (2008) Commercialization of Uranoscodon superciliosus Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropiduridae) for magical-religious purposes in North and Northeastern of Brazil. Sitientibus Série Ciências Biológicas 8(2):257–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN (2009) Fauna used in popular medicine in Northeast Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 5(1):1–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Alves HN (2011) The faunal drugstore: animal-based remedies used in traditional medicines in Latin America. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 7(9)

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Barbosa JAA, Santos SLDX, Souto WMS, Barboza RRD (2009a) Animal-based remedies as complementary medicines in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Barboza RRD, Souto WMS (2010a) A global overview of canids used in traditional medicines. Biodivers Conserv 19(6):1513–1522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Dias TLP (2010) Usos de invertebrados na medicina popular no Brasil e suas implicações para conservação. Trop Conserv Sci 3(2):159–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Léo Neto NA, Santana GG, Vieira WLS, Almeida WO (2009b) Reptiles used for medicinal and magic religious purposes in Brazil. Appl Herpetol 6(3):257–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Lima HN, Tavares MC, Souto WMS, Barboza RRD, Vasconcellos A (2008a) Animal-based remedies as complementary medicines in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Brazil. BMC Complement Altern Med 8:44

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Neto NAL, Brooks SE, Albuquerque UP (2009c) Commercialization of animal-derived remedies as complementary medicine in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 124(3):600–608

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2005) Why study the use of animal products in traditional medicines? J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 1(5):1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2006) From cnidarians to mammals: the use of animals as remedies in fishing communities in NE Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 107:259–276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2007a) Biodiversity, traditional medicine and public health: Where do they meet? J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 3(14):9

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2007b) Zootherapeutic practices among fishing communities in North and Northeast Brazil: a comparison. J Ethnopharmacol 111:82–103

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2007c) Zootherapy goes to town: the use of animal-based remedies in urban areas of NE and N Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 113:541–555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2008) Medicinal animals for the treatment of asthma in Brazil. BMC Complement Altern Med 14:350–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2010) Trade of animals used in Brazilian traditional medicine: trends and implications for conservation. Hum Ecol 38(5):691–704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL, Santana GG (2007) The role of animal-derived remedies as complementary medicine in Brazil. Bioscience 57(11):949–955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Souto WMS (2010) Etnozoologia: conceitos, considerações históricas e importância. In: Alves RRN, Souto WMS, Mourão JS (eds) A Etnozoologia no Brasil: importância, itatus atual e perspectivas, vol 7, 1st edn. NUPEEA, Recife

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Souto WMS, Barboza RRD (2010b) Primates in traditional folk medicine: a world overview. Mamm Rev 40(2):155–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Souto WMS, Mourão JS (2010c) A etnozoologia no Brasil: Importância, Status atual e Perspectivas, vol 7. Estudos & Avanços, 1 edn. NUPEEA, Recife

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Vieira WLS, Santana GG (2008b) Reptiles used in traditional folk medicine: conservation implications. Biodivers Conserv 17:2037–2049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anyinam C (1995) Ecology and ethnomedicine: exploring links between current environmental crisis and indigenous medical practices. Soc Sci Med 40(3):321–329

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashwell D, Walston N (2008) An overview of the use and trade of plants and animals in traditional medicine systems in Cambodia, 1st edn. Greater Mekong Programme, Ha Noi, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia

    Google Scholar 

  • Barajas E (1961) Los animales usados en la medicina popular mexicana. Imprenta Universitaria, Ciudad de México

    Google Scholar 

  • Begossi A (1992) Food taboos at Búzios Island (SE Brazil): their significance and relation to folk medicine. J Ethnobiol 12(1):117–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Begossi A, Braga F (1992) Food taboos and folk medicine among fishermen from the Tocantins river. Amazoniana 12:341–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Benkendorff K (2002) Potential conservation benefits and problems associated with bioprospecting in the marine environment. In: Lumley D, Dickman C (eds) A zoological revolution: using native fauna to assist in its own survival. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales and Australian Museum, Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  • Benoist R (1951) Contribution a l’Histoire de l’utilisation en pharmacie et en thérapeutique des animaux aquatiques (autres que les poisons) et de leur produits. Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg

    Google Scholar 

  • Bensky D, Clavey S, Stöger E (2004) Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia medica. Eastland Press, Seatle

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner AW (2002) Life-saving products from coral reefs. Issues Sci Technol. http://www.nap.edu/issues/18.3/p_bruckner.html. Accessed 16 July 2011

  • Burgener M (2010) Evaluation of the CITES appendix III listing and delisting of South African abalone Haliotis midae. TRAFFIC Bull 23(1):42–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Carté BK (1996) Biomedical potential of marine natural products. Bioscience 46(4):271–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2003) Overview of sea cucumber farming and sea ranching practices in China. SPC beche-de-mer Inf Bull 18:18–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2004) Present status and prospects of sea cucumber industry in China. FAO Fisheries technical paper, pp 25–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2005) Present status and prospects of sea cucumber industry in China. In: Lovatelli A (ed) Advances in sea cucumber aquaculture and management. Food Agric Organiz, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivian E (2002) Biodiversity: its importance to human health. Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivian E, Roberts CM, Bernstein AS (2003) The threat to cone snails. Science 302(5644):391

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choo PS (2004) Fisheries, trade and utilization of sea cucumbers in Malaysia. In: Lovatelli A, Conand C, Purcell S, Uthicke S, Hamel J-F, Mercier A (eds) Advances in sea cucumber aquaculture and management. FAO fisheries technical paper 463, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Choo PS (2008) Population status, fisheries and trade of sea cucumbers in Asia. FAO fisheries and aquaculture technical paper 516, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Chopra RN, Chopra IC, Handa KL, Kapur LD (2006) Indigenous drugs of India, 2nd edn. Academic Publishers, Calcuta

    Google Scholar 

  • CITES (2001) List of animal species used in traditional medicine. In: Seventeenth meeting of the animals committee, CITES, Hanoi. http://www.cites.org/eng/com/ac/18/E18-13-1.doc. Acessed 21 Aug 2011

  • Conand C (1990) The fishery resources of Pacific Island countries, part 2: holothurians. FAO fisheries technical paper 272.2, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Conand C (2006) Harvest and trade: utilization of sea cucumbers; sea cucumber fisheries; current international trade; illegal, unreported and unregulated trade; bycatch; socio-economic characteristics of the trade in sea cucumbers. In: Bruckner AW (ed) Proceedings of the CITES workshop on the conservation of sea cucumbers in the families Holothuriidae and Stichopodidae. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-34, Silver Spring, pp 51–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (1999a) Cultura pesqueira, desenvolvimento e sustentabilidade no litoral norte do estado da Bahia: um estudo de caso. TecBahia 14(1):131–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (1999b) Healing with animals in Feira de Santana City, Bahia, Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 65:225–230

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (1999c) Traditional use and sale of animals as medicines in Feira de Santana City, Bahia, Brazil. Indig Knowl Dev Monit 7(2):6–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (2000a) Sustainable development and traditional knowledge: a case study in a Brazilian artisanal fishermen’s community. Sustainable Dev 8(2):89–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (2000b) Zootherapy based medicinal traditions in brazil. Honey Bee 11(2)

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (2001) A cultura pesqueira do litoral Norte da Bahia. EDUFBA/EDUFAL, Salvador/Macéio, Salvador/Macéio, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM, Marques JGW (2000) Conhecimento ictiológico tradicional e a distribuição temporal e espacial de recursos pesqueiros pelos pescadores de Conde, Estado da Bahia, Brasil. Etnoecológica 4(6):56–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham AB, Zondi AS (1991) Use of animal parts for the commercial trade in traditional medicines. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Descola P (1996) The spears of twilight: life and death in the Amazon jungle. The New Press, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Dias TLP, Leo Neto NA, Alves RRN (2011) Molluscs in the marine curio and souvenir trade in NE Brazil: species composition and implications for their conservation and management. Biodivers Conserv, pp 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira FS, Brito S, Ribeiro S, Saraiva A, Almeida W, Alves RRN (2009) Animal-based folk remedies sold in public markets in Crato and Juazeiro do Norte, Ceara, Brazil. BMC Complement Altern Med 9(1):17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo N (1994) Os ‘bichos’ que curam: os animais e a medicina ‘folk’ em Belém do Pará. Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Göeldi 10(1):75–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredalina BD, Ridzwan BH, Abidin AA, Kaswandi MA, Zaiton H, Zali I, Kittakoop P, Jais AM (1999) Fatty acid compositions in local sea cucumber: stichopus chloronotus, for wound healing. Gen Pharmacol 33(4):337–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu X, Wang CY, Shao CL, Han L, Wu YF, Wu HL, Qian SB, Guan HS (2009) Endangered and rare species of marine medicinal organisms and Their protection in China. Period Ocean Univ Chin 39(4):719–734

    Google Scholar 

  • Gopal R, Vijayakumaran M, Venkatesan R, Kathiroli S (2008) Marine organisms in Indian medicine and their future prospects. Nat Prod Radiance 7(2):139–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Gössling S, Kunkel T, Schumacher K, Zilger M (2004) Use of molluscs, fish, and other marine taxa by tourism in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Biodivers Conserv 13(14):2623–2639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray JS (1997) Marine biodiversity: patterns, threats and conservation needs. Biodivers Conserv 6(1):153–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groark KP (1997) To warm the blood, to warm the flesh: the role of the steambath in highland maya (Tzeltal-Tzotzil) ethnomedicine. J Lat Am Lore 20(1):3–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Haefner B (2003) Drugs from the deep: marine natural products as drug candidates. Drug Discov Today 8(12):536–544

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamidah A, Rustam ZA, Tamil AM, Zarina LA, Zulkifli ZS, Jamal R (2009) Prevalence and parental perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine use by children with cancer in a multi ethnic Southeast Asian population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 52(1):70–74

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert DG, Hamer ML, Mander M, Mkhize N, Prins F (2003) Invertebrate animals as a component of the traditional medicine trade in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Afr Invertebr 44(2):327–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu SY (1980) An enumeration of Chinese materia medica. The Chinese University Press, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt B, Vincent ACJ (2006) Scale and sustainability of marine bioprospecting for pharmaceuticals. AMBIO. J Hum Environ 35(2):57–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang S, Phipps M (2003) A question of attitude: South Korea’s traditional medicine practitioners and wildlife conservation, 1st edn. TRAFFIC East Asia, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee SKH (1999) Trade in traditional medicine using endangered species: an international context. In: Paper presented at the 2nd Australian symposium on traditional medicine and wildlife conservation, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Léo Neto NA, Brooks SE, Alves RRN (2009) From Eshu to Obatala: animals used in sacrificial rituals at Candomble “terreiros” in Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 5(1):1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Letson D (2008) Oceans and human health: human dimensions. In: Walsh PJ, Smith SL, Fleming LE, Solo-Gabriele HM, Gerwick WH (eds) Oceans and human health: risks and remedies from the seas. Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier, pp 91–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Lev E (2003) Traditional healing with animals (zootherapy): medieval to present-day Levantine practice. J Ethnopharmacol 85(1):107–118

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lev E (2007) Drugs held and sold by pharmacists of the Jewish community of medieval (11–14th centuries) cairo according to lists of materia medica found at the Taylor-Schechter Genizah collection, Cambridge. J Ethnopharmacol 110(2):275–293

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lev E, Amar Z (2002) Ethnopharmacological survey of traditional drugs sold in the Kingdom of Jordan. J Ethnopharmacol 82:131–145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Tseng A, Yang S (2005) Chinese herbal medicine: modern applications of traditional formulas. Alternative medicine. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovatelli A, Conand C, Purcell S, Uthicke S, Hamel JF (2004) Advances in sea cucumber aquaculture and management. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 61:519–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machado ABM, Drummond GM, Paglia AP (2008) Livro Vermelho da fauna brasileira ameaçada de extinção, vol 2 MMA. Fundação Biodiversitas, Brasília

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahawar MM, Jaroli DP (2008) Traditional zootherapeutic studies in India: a review. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 4(1):17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mallmann MLW (1996) A farmacopéia do mar: invertebrados marinhos de interesse médico e a etnomedicina alagoana. Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió

    Google Scholar 

  • Marean CW, Bar-Matthews M, Bernatchez J, Fisher E, Goldberg P, Herries AIR, Jacobs Z, Jerardino A, Karkanas P, Minichillo T (2007) Early human use of marine resources and pigment in South Africa during the Middle Pleistocene. Nature 449(7164):905–908

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marques JGW (1997) Fauna medicinal: recurso do ambiente ou ameaça à biodiversidade? Mutum 1(4)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall NT, Milledge SAH, Afonso PS (2001) Stormy seas for marine invertebrates: trade in sea cucumbers, sea shells and lobsters in Kenya. Tanzania and Mozambique, TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • McMichael AJ, Beaglehole R (2000) The changing global context of public health. The Lancet 356(9228):495–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morwood MJ, O’Sullivan PB, Aziz F, Raza A (1998) Fission-track ages of stone tools and fossils on the east Indonesian island of Flores. Nature 392(6672):173–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moura FBP, Marques JGW (2008) Zooterapia popular na Chapada Diamantina: uma Medicina incidental? Ciência Saúde Coletiva 13:2179–2188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muller WEG, Batel R, Schroder HC, Muller IM (2004) Traditional and modern biomedical prospecting: Part I–the history: sustainable exploitation of biodiversity (sponges and invertebrates) in the Adriatic Sea in Rovinj (Croatia). Evidence-based Complement Altern Med 1(1):71–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadkarni KM (1994) Indian materia medica, vol 2, 3rd edn. Popular Prakashan, Mumbai

    Google Scholar 

  • Nations JD (1997) A ecologia profunda encontra o mundo em desenvolvimento. In: Wilson EO (ed) Biodiversidade. Nova Fronteira, Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • Niir Board of Consultants and Engineers (2003) Hand book on unani medicines with formulae, processes, uses and analysis. Asia Paific Business Press Inc., Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishida AK, Nordi N, Alves RRN (2006) Mollusc gathering in Northeast Brazil: an ethnoecological approach. Hum Ecol 34(1):133–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padmanabhan P, Sujana KA (2008) Animal products in traditional medicine from Attappady hills of Western Ghats. Indian J Tradit Knowl 7(2):326–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Pain S (1996) Hostages of the deep. New Sci 151(2047):38–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Pajaro MG, Meeuwig JJ, Giles BG, Vincent ACJ (2004) Biology, fishery and trade of sea moths (Pisces: Pegasidae) in the central Philippines. Oryx 38(04):432–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey P (2009) Endangered medicinal species of the Indian Ocean: radical need for conservation. Chem Biodivers 6(7):990–1001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira J (1842) The elements of materia medica and therapeutica, vol 2, 2nd edn. Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Perezrul DH (2006) National report–Mexico. In: Bruckner AW (ed) Proceedings of the CITES workshop on the conservation of sea cucumbers in the families holothuriidae and stichopodidae. NOAA technical memorandum NMFSOPR 34, Silver Spring, pp 166–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry A (2000) Global survey of marine medicinals. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines. Project Seahorse, Montreal, pp 35–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Prabhakar AK, Roy SP (2009) Ethno-medical uses of some shell fishes by people of Kosi River basin of North-Bihar, India. Ethnomedicine 3:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Purcell SW, Lovatelli A, Vasconcellos M, Yimin Y (2010) Managing sea cucumber fisheries with and ecosystem approach. FAO fisheries and aquaculture technical paper no. 520, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Quave CL, Lohani U, Verde A, Fajardo J, Rivera D, Obón C, Valdes A, Pieroni A (2010) A comparative assessment of zootherapeutic remedies from selected areas in Albania, Italy, Spain and Nepal. J Ethnobiol 30(1):92–125

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radbill SX (1976) Child hygiene among the Indians. Texas Rep Biol Med 3(4):419–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Read BE, Li S, Pak C (1937) Chinese materia medica: turtle & shellfish drugs, avian drugs, a compendium of minerals and stones. Peking Natural History Bulletin Reprinted by Southern Materials Center, Inc., Taipei

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosa IL, Oliveira TPR, Osório FM, Moraes LE, Castro ALC, Barros GML, Alves RRN (2011) Fisheries and trade of seahorses in Brazil: historical perspective, current trends, and future directions. Biodivers Conserv 20(9):1951–1971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruppert EE, Barnes RD, Fox RS (1994) Invertebrate zoology. Saunders College Publishing, Orlando

    Google Scholar 

  • Salamanca AM, Pajaro MG (1996) The utilization of seashells in the Philippines. TRAFFIC Bull Wildl Trade Monit Unit 16:61–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheuer PJ (1988) Ethno-natural historical leads. In: Fautin DG (ed) Biomedical importance of marine organisms, vol 13. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, pp 37–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Schröder T (2010) World ocean review 2010. Maribus, Hamburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Seraj S, Rahmatullah M, Monjur-E-Khudha M, Aporna SA, Khan MSH, Jahan R (2011) Amulets and other uncommon treatments prescribed by traditional medicinal practitioners of the bede community residing in Porabari village of Dhaka district, Bangladesh. J Altern Complem Med 17(11):987–993

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva MLV, Alves ÂGC, Almeida AV (2004) A zooterapia no Recife (Pernambuco): uma articulação entre as práticas e a história. Biotemas 17(1):95–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Sodeinde OA, Soewu DA (1999) Pilot study of the traditional medicine trade in Nigeria. TRAFFIC Bull 18(1):35–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Soejarto DD (1996) Biodiversity prospecting and benefit-sharing: perspectives from the field. J Ethnopharmacol 51:1–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa RS (2010) Etnobotânica e etnozoologia de comunidades pesqueiras da Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) do Delta do Parnaíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina

    Google Scholar 

  • Still J (2003) Use of animal products in traditional Chinese medicine: environmental impact and health hazards. Complem Ther Med 11:118–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stringer CB, Finlayson JC, Barton RNE, Fernández-Jalvo Y, Cáceres I, Sabin RC, Rhodes EJ, Currant AP, Rodríguez-Vidal J, Giles-Pacheco F (2008) Neanderthal exploitation of marine mammals in Gibraltar. Proc Natl Acad Sci 105(38):14319–14324

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang WC (1987) Chinese medicinal materials from the sea. Chin Med 1(4):571–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas TRA, Kavlekar DP, LokaBharathi PA (2010) Marine drugs from sponge-microbe association–a review. Mar Drugs 8(4):1417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Titcomb M, Fellows DB, Pukui MK, Devaney DM (1978) Native use of marine invertebrates in old Hawaii. Pac Sci 32(4):325–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Traffic Europe-Russia (2006) Harvest and trade of trepang (far east sea cucumber) from the Russian far east. In: Bruckner AW (ed) Proceedings of the CITES workshop on the conservation of sea cucumbers in the families Holothuriidae and Stichopodidae. NOAA technical memorandum NMFSOPR 34, Silver Spring, p 217

    Google Scholar 

  • Van NDN, Tap N (2008) An overview of the use of plants and animals in traditional medicine systems in Viet Nam, 1st edn. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Greater Mekong Programme, Ha Noi

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (1997) Trade in pegasid fishes (sea moths), primarily for traditional Chinese medicine. Oryx 31(3):199–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (2006) Live food and non-food fisheries on coral reefs, and their potential management. In: Côté IM, Reynolds JD (eds) Coral reef conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 183–236

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vohora SB, Khan M (1978) Animal origin drugs used in unani medicine. Indian J Pharmacol 10(3):255

    Google Scholar 

  • Voultsiadou E (2010) Therapeutic properties and uses of marine invertebrates in the ancient Greek world and early Byzantium. J Ethnopharmacol 130(2):237–247

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walker P, Wood E (2005) Life in the sea: people and the sea. Facts on File, Inc., NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiting MJ, Williams VL, Hibbitts TJ (2011) Animals traded for traditional medicine at the Faraday market in South Africa: species diversity and conservation implications. J Zool 284:84–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2011) International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (ICD-10). http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en. Accessed 20 Oct 2011

  • Wong K, Dahlen M (1994) Streetwise guide: Chinese herbal medicine. Red Mansions Publishing, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiyin L, Guanghui Z, Qiang Z, Liang W, Benxue G (2004) Studies on hatchery techniques of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. In: Lovatelli A, Conand C, Purcell S, Uthicke S, Hamel J-F, Mercier A (ed) Advances in sea cucumber aquaculture and management. FAO fisheries technical paper 463, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Yinfeng G, Xueying Z, Yan C, Di W, Sung W (1997) Sustainability of wildlife use in traditional Chinese medicine. Conserving China biodiversity: reports of the biodiversity working group (BWG), China council for international cooperation on environment and development

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaidnuddin I, Ibrahim K (2006) Natinal report—Malaysia. In: Bruckner AW (ed) Proceedings of the CITES workshop on the conservation of sea cucumbers in the families Holothuriidae and Stichopodidae. NOAA technical memorandum NMFSOPR 34, Silver Spring, pp 169–180

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ethnozoology, Conservation and Biodiversity Research Group, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande-PB, 58109-753, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

  2. Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, 58059-970, Brazil

    Tacyana Pereira Ribeiro Oliveira & Ierecê Lucena Rosa

  3. Forests and Livelihoods Programme, Centre for International Forestry Research, PO Box 0113 BOCBD, Bogor, Indonesia

    Anthony B. Cunningham

Authors
  1. Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tacyana Pereira Ribeiro Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ierecê Lucena Rosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anthony B. Cunningham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , CCBS - Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Av. Baraúnas 351, Campina Grande, 58-109753, Paraíba, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

  2. , CCEN / Depto. de Sistemático, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 58059-900, Paraíba, Brazil

    Ierecê Lucena Rosa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Alves, R.R.N., Oliveira, T.P.R., Rosa, I.L., Cunningham, A.B. (2013). Marine Invertebrates in Traditional Medicines. In: Alves, R., Rosa, I. (eds) Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29026-8_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation