Product Code Database
Anemonia sulcata, or Mediterranean snakelocks sea anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae from the Mediterranean Sea. Whether A. sulcata should be recognized as a synonym of Anemonia viridis remains a matter of dispute.
This sea anemone aggressively defends its territory from other individuals which are genetically dissimilar. It extends specialised tentacles (called acrorhagi), the tips of which have a concentration of (stinging cells); these sting the invader, causing tissue necrosis, and making the competitor move away.
A research conducted in rabbits' ventricular myocytes were analyzed under exposure to these toxins to better understand their role. Specifically, toxin ll (ATX ll) derived from the Anemonia sulcata was used in rabbit's myocytes to determine whether they induced the late sodium current causing overloading of sodium ions and consequently calcium ions inside the cell via reverse Na+/Ca2+ exchanger current. Since the heart depends heavily on the balance of Na+ and Ca2+ homeostasis, any unbalance from this can result in heart arrhythmias. These toxins induce augmentations in diastolic Ca2+ concentration, calcium transient amplitude, and myocyte shortening therefore increasing serious cardiac failure and cell apoptosis.Cao, Z., Z. Liu, P. Zhang, L. Hu, J. Hao, P. Zhang, Y. Tian, Z. Song, Q. Zhou, and J.-hua Ma. 2018. Sodium Houttuyfonate Inhibits Voltage-Gated Peak Sodium Current and Anemonia Sulcata Toxin II-Increased Late Sodium Current in Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes. Pharmacology 102:253–261.
In addition, the toxin AsKC11 is found in the venom of Anemonia sulcata. This toxin has been shown to be an activator of G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels 1/2, involved in the regulation of cellular excitability.
Uses
This sea anemone is popular as a seafood in southern Spain, specially, Cádiz, where it is known as or ; for the fishery to be sustainable, the authorities have set a minimum weight below which the sea anemones cannot be harvested.
To neutralize the poison, the anemones are marinated in water with vinegar.
The usual recipe is to batter them in flour and maybe egg and fry them in olive oil until they develop a crunchy cover.
Ortiguilla omelets are also cooked.
Toxicity
Anemonia sulcata have toxic cnidocysts organelles that are able to inject venom and cause an allergic reaction, particularly a skin reaction. Their stings are known to cause neurotoxicity and act on the sodium and potassium channels but also cause cytolysis on the cell membranes.Tezcan, O. D., and O. Gozer. 2015. Severe Toxic Skin Reaction Caused by a Common Anemone and Identification of the Culprit Organism. Journal of Travel Medicine 22:269–271.
|
|
