Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HOLOTHURIN

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Saponins (sapinogen glycosides) and sapogenins are widely distributed in plants. Each
saponin consists of an aglucone moiety (the sapogenin), a sugar and a glycoside. The
sapinogenin may be a steroid or a triterpene (unsaturated hydrocarbons based on the
isoprene unit H2CC(CH3)CH CH2) and with structures similar to that of steroid hormones),
and the sugar may be glucose, galactose, a pentose or a methylpentose. Saponins are
bitter- tasting and foam strongly when shaken in water. They form oil- in- water emulsions
and act as collective colloids. They are poisonous towards lower life forms. Blocks the
transmission of nerve impulses. decrease the regeneration process, kills microorganisms
and prevents tumours. Potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and
ankylosing spondylitis. The results of human studies indicated patients had diminished
morning joint stiffness, increased grip strength and significant pain reduction without
toxic side- effects. An effective treatment of skin fungi; has been a source for
production of a medicine that regulates cardiac activity, improves metabolism and has a
general stimulating effect. Sea cucumbers, from which the material is isolated, have a
special organ called the Cuvierian organ that contains toxic substances. When in danger,
the sea cucumber expels its viscera together with the Cuvierian organ. In the water it
becomes larger and splits into long white sticky threads that adhere to a potential enemy'
s body. The venom of sea cucumbers quickly weakens the muscles of the enemy and if the
Cuvierian tubules come in contact with the eyes, the result may be permanent blindness.
Holothurin has been isolated from the Cuvierian organ.

SYNONYMS

C50-H82-O26-S, "sea cucumber", glycoside, "saponin/ bioflavonoid", "sulfated triterpenoid
oligoglycoside"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Very toxic to aquatic organisms.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be seriously damaging to the health of the individual; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal.  Limited evidence exists that the substance may cause irreversible but non-lethal mutagenic effects following a single exposure.  At sufficiently high doses the material may be neurotoxic(i.e. poisonous to the nervous system).  Saponins (saponines and steroidal sapogenines) are weakly absorbed by the intestine and because of their detergent action, concentrate in the lipid layer of the cells of the gastric and intestinal epithelium. This results in cell damage and severe irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, characterised by burning of the mouth and stomach, cough, salivation and lachrymation, followed by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Severe fluid and electrolyte loss may also ensue. Reflexes via the autonomic nervous system may produce disturbances to heart function and circulatory system. Death may be the result of a shock reaction. Although saponins are generally poorly absorbed, local irritation of the mucous membranes may enhance their permeability as a result of damage to the intestinal wall. After absorption, systemic damage to red blood cells may produce severe haemolysis, causing anoxia and kidney failure. Humans generally do not suffer severe poisoning from saponins as endogenous cholestrin inactivates them so that only mucous membranes are involved. Because of this, saponins have been used in sneezing powders, emetics and cough syrups to facilitate expectoration. Most saponins are diuretic. In humans this effect disappears within a week following the neutralising action of cholestrin. Some saponins have been identified as potentially harmful to humans because they reduce serum cholesterol by preventing its re-adsorption after it has been excreted by the bile. It is hypothesised that the saponins either bind with bile or cause bile salts to bind to the polysaccharides in dietary fibre. Either way the bile salts are unavailable to bind cholesterol.  

EYE

  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Abrasive damage however, may result from prolonged exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  Inhalation may produce serious health damage*.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Inhalation of saponin (saponin, sapogenin) dusts or aerosols may produce spasm, oedema of the larynx, chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema. High concentrations may cause mucous membrane damage. Symptoms include burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, headache and nausea.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Exposure to the material may result in a possible risk of irreversible effects. The material may produce mutagenic effects in man. This concern is raised, generally, on the basis ofappropriate studies with similar materials using mammalian somatic cells in vivo. Such findings are often supported by positive results from in vitro mutagenicity studies.  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Several instances of allergenicity resulting from contact with steroidal saponins (sapogenins, including phytosteroids and phyto-oestrogens) have been recorded. Severe irritation has been reported following dermal exposure to sapogenin-containing saps but confounding factors such as the presence of raphides (calcium oxalates) may be significant. Saponins (saponine, sapogenine) are extremely toxic if absorbed in the blood stream; they act by haemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) even at extreme dilution. Many saponins are phytooestrogenic. A common feature of the phytooestrogens is their striking similarity to 17beta-oestrodiol and the synthetic oestrogen, diethylstilboestrol. There is evidence that phytooestrogens may mediate oestrogen-like effects by direct interaction with the oestrogen receptor of cells. Although the hormonal activity of phytooestrogens is two to five orders of magnitude below that of oestrodiol, their high concentration in certain plants and their slower metabolic disposition, can lead to tissue levels exceeding those of endogenous oestrogens by a factor of a thousand or more.