Gamat
{{Italics title}}
{{Short description|Medicinial remedy derived from sea cucumber}}
{{Use Malaysian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
Image:Yokohama Chinese Medicine Sea cucumber 2.jpg (holothuroidea) in a Yokohama pharmacy in Japan]]
The Gamat, which is a Malay word for sea cucumber (holothuroidea), refers to medicinal remedies derived from several species of the sea cucumber family.
It has been used traditionally by the Malays and local indigenous in Malaysia to relieve back pain, treating bruise, minor wounds and burns, as well as a tonic to provide extra energy to the body.{{sfn|Mazliadiyana|Nazrun|Isa|2017|p=83}} A research conduct by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in 2007 to find out the usage of traditional medicine among the ethnic groups in Sabah in a public market in the eastern coast of Tawau District found that the Bugis with the most usage with 40%, followed by Sama-Bajau with 28%, with Gamat oil (minyak gamat) and Eucalyptus oil (minyak kayu putih) are most commonly used by the community.{{sfn|Jamaluddin|2007|p=vii}}
Uses
Sea cucumbers are found in various colours; some are black, white, or grey, and striped with the golden sea cucumber (Stichopus horrens),{{cite web|url=https://www.frim.gov.my/v1/herba/9.pdf|title=Gamat, Khazanah dari Laut|trans-title=Gamat, Treasure from the Sea|lang=ms|work=Forest Research Institute Malaysia|access-date=2 June 2025}} which is commonly used for medical purposes.{{sfn|Hafiz Leong|Mohd Fauzi|Rahim Kamarudin|Mohamed Rehan|2021|p=732}}{{sfn|Kustiariyah|2007|p=3}} Users believe that a solution of sea cucumbers can heal cuts, skin eruptions, and ulcers, and claim that it has a beneficial effect on the immune system.{{cite journal|last1=Mao|first1=Jing|last2=Li|first2=Shunqin|last3=Fu|first3=RongRong|last4=Wang|first4=Yijin|last5=Meng|first5=Jing|last6=Jin|first6=Yan|last7=Wu|first7=Wu|last8=Zhang|first8=Min|last9=Vinson|first9=Joe|title=Sea Cucumber Hydrolysate Alleviates Immunosuppression and Gut Microbiota Imbalance Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Balb/c Mice through the NF-κB Pathway|journal=National Library of Medicine|via=National Center for Biotechnology Information|year=2023|volume=12|issue=8|page=1604 |doi=10.3390/foods12081604|doi-access=free|pmid=37107399|pmc=10137554}}
The Stichopus variegatus are used in the production of traditional Gamat oil, ointment, and gel in both Indonesia and Malaysia.{{sfn|A. Jalalal|2022|p=11}} In the Malaysia's state of Kelantan, gamat oil is traditionally used by the local Kelantanese Malays to heal childbirth wounds, particularly those after vaginal delivery.{{sfn|Halim|Abdul Rani|2017|p=51}}
The Stichopus variegatus extract also shows to be effective in reducing the gastrointestinal worm burden on stray cats.{{sfn|A. Jalalal|2022|p=11}}
Another species Stichopus chloronotus is used for combating various types of ringworm infections, which are formulate into cream, ointment, lotion or solution.{{cite web|url=https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/html/article.php/aid/643/cid/2/research/medicine/universiti_sains_malaysia/sea_cucumbers_to_combat_infections_%28picture_attached%29.html|title=Sea cucumbers to combat infections (Picture attached)|work=Universiti Sains Malaysia|via=Asia Research News|date=21 March 2006|access-date=2 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602035522/https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/html/article.php/aid/643/cid/2/research/medicine/universiti_sains_malaysia/sea_cucumbers_to_combat_infections_%28picture_attached%29.html|archive-date=2 June 2025|url-status=live}}
Teripang Emas (Stichopus herrmanni), a type of Indonesian gamat ({{langx|id|teripang laut}}) is usually the dried, powdered bodies of sea cucumbers made into a lotion or other topical salve.{{harv|Alpayet|Andi Mustika|Rahma|Andriyanto|Noviyanti Sutardi|2023|p=58–60}}{{cite news|url=https://www.tempo.co/arsip/manfaat-super-teripang-emas-bagi-kulit-dan-kecantikan-1157438|title=Manfaat Super Teripang Emas bagi Kulit dan Kecantikan|trans-title=Super Benefits of Golden Sea Cucumber for Skin and Beauty|lang=id|work=Tempo|date=17 October 2017|access-date=1 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601154549/https://www.tempo.co/arsip/manfaat-super-teripang-emas-bagi-kulit-dan-kecantikan-1157438|archive-date=1 June 2025|url-status=live}} It is sometimes mixed into clay and applied to the face as a mask treatment, or put in tea and consumed for stomach complaints.{{sfn|Pahrurodji|2021|p=5}}
A research by Indonesian Dental Faculty on rats found the administration of teripang emas powder can reduce the risk of oral candidiasis with 0.09mg/kgBW dose of stichopus hermanii are able to reduce the thickness of the tongue epithelium in the group exposed to smoke and induced by candida albicans.{{sfn|Devi Oktaviani|Wahjuningsih|Andriani|2018|p=10}} The same faculty also found that the water extract of teripang emas has a positive benefit in the wound healing process.{{sfn|Damaiyanti|2015|p=74}}
Scarcity
Sea cucumbers in the waters of Malaysia have been over-harvested to supply consumers of the folk remedy, and as a result the animal and its products are becoming scarce.{{cite web|url=https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/16797/a_rapid_assessment_of_online_trade_in_sea_cucumber_and_fish_maw_in_malaysia_and_singapore_final.pdf|title=A Rapid Assessment of Online Trade in Sea Cucumber and Fish Maw in Malaysia and Singapore|last1=James Ong|first1=Elliott|last2=Suk Teng|first2=Chin|date=January 2022|work=Traffic|access-date=1 June 2025|page=33|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601141634/https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/16797/a_rapid_assessment_of_online_trade_in_sea_cucumber_and_fish_maw_in_malaysia_and_singapore_final.pdf|archive-date=1 June 2025|url-status=live}} Efforts to restock the fishery have not generally been successful. Recently, a sea cucumber aquaculture operation was opened on the shores of several Malaysian islands to increase the gamat supply.{{harv|Vaitilingon|Smith|Watson|Miller|Alattas|Ong Hock|Zainoddin|Zaidnuddin|first8=Ilias Zaidnuddin|Azhar|2016|p=67}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
= Bibliography =
- {{cite thesis|url=https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/8619/1/ae0000002065....pdf|title=PENGGUNAAN UBATAN TRADISIONAL DI PASAR TAMU DAN PASAR BESAR DAERAH TAWAU, SABAH: SATU TINJAUAN|trans-title=USE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN WEEKLY MARKET AND MAIN MARKET IN TAWAU DISTRICT, SABAH: A REVIEW|last=Jamaluddin|first=Ahmad Badawi|lang=ms|work=Conservation Biology Program School of Science and Technology|via=Universiti Malaysia Kelantan|year=2007|access-date=2 June 2025|pages=1–27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602043550/https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/8619/1/ae0000002065....pdf|archive-date=2 June 2025|url-status=live}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/jphpi/article/view/963/944|title=TERIPANG SEBAGAI SUMBER PANGAN DAN BIOAKTIF|trans-title=SEA CUCUMBER AS A FOOD AND BIOACTIVE SOURCE|author=Kustiariyah|lang=id|journal=Indonesian Journal of Aquatic Product Technology [Buletin Teknologi Hasil Perikanan]|year=2007|volume=X|issue=1|pages=1–8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601165117/https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/jphpi/article/view/963/944|archive-date=1 June 2025|url-status=live}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://journal-denta.hangtuah.ac.id/index.php/jurnal/article/view/209|title=Karakterisasi Esktrak Air Teripang Emas (Stichopus hermanii)|trans-title=Characterization Of Water Extract Gold Sea Cucumber (Stichopus hermanii)|last=Damaiyanti|first=Dian Widya|lang=id|journal=Denta (Jurnal Kedokteran Gigi)|year=2015|volume=9|issue=1|pages=1–8|issn=1907-5987|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602050841/https://journal-denta.hangtuah.ac.id/index.php/jurnal/article/view/209|archive-date=2 June 2025|url-status=live|quote=File:CC BY-NC-SA.svg Text is licensed by DENTA (Journal Kedokteran Gigi) under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://mauricoast.com/pics/mauricoastpics/BDM36_67_Vaitilingon.pdf|title=Sea cucumber hatchery seed production in Malaysia: From research and development, to pilot-scale production of the sandfish Holothuria scabra|last1=Vaitilingon|first1=Devarajen|last2=Smith|first2=Stuart|last3=Watson|first3=Guy|last4=Miller|first4=Tim|last5=Alattas|first5=Syed|last6=Ong Hock|first6=Keat|last7=Zainoddin|first7=Jamari|last8=Zaidnuddin|first8=Ilias|last9=Azhar|first9=Hamzah|journal=SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin|via=Sustainable Aquaculture Research & Development (Mauritius)|year=2016|issue=36|pages=67–75}}
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- {{cite journal|url=https://journalarticle.ukm.my/11867/1/9_mazliadiyana_et_al_pdf_73379.pdf|title=Optimum Dose of Sea Cucumber (Stichopus Chloronotus) Extract for Wound Healing|last1=Mazliadiyana|first1=M|last2=Nazrun|first2=AS|last3=Isa|first3=NM|journal=Med & Health|year=2017|volume=12|issue=1|pages=83–89|doi=10.17576/MH.2017.1201.09}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://journal-denta.hangtuah.ac.id/index.php/jurnal/article/download/69/59/81|title=Efektivitas Suplementasi Teripang Emas (Stichopus Hermanii) Dalam Mencegah Terjadinya Oral Candidiasis Pada Tikus Wistar|trans-title=Effectivity of Stichopus hermanii Supplementation to Prevent Oral Candidiasis on Rats|last1=Devi Oktaviani|first1=Paramita|last2=Wahjuningsih|first2=Endah|last3=Andriani|first3=Dwi|lang=id|journal=Denta (Jurnal Kedokteran Gigi)|year=2018|volume=12|issue=1|pages=9–15|doi=10.30649/denta.v12i1.155 |issn=1907-5987|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601161630/https://journal-denta.hangtuah.ac.id/index.php/jurnal/article/download/69/59/81|archive-date=1 June 2025|url-status=live|quote=File:CC BY-NC-SA.svg Text is licensed by DENTA (Journal Kedokteran Gigi) under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/periodicals/index.php/peat/article/view/2736/1496|title=Investigation of Bioactive Compounds from Sea Cucumber Extract and Stingless Bee Honey Using Critical Literature Review and Bioinformatics Approach for Potential Synergy Combination|last1=Hafiz Leong|first1=Muhamad Nur|last2=Mohd Fauzi|first2=Noor Akhmazillah|last3=Rahim Kamarudin|first3=Kamarul|last4=Mohamed Rehan|first4=Aisyah|journal=Progress in Engineering Application and Technology|via=Universiti Tun Hussein Onn|year=2021|volume=2|issue=2|pages=732–751|eissn=2773-5303|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601131942/https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/periodicals/index.php/peat/article/view/2736/1496|archive-date=1 June 2025|url-status=live}}
- {{cite book|last=Pahrurodji|first=Purwanti|title=Dari Dapur Rumput Laut: Makananmu adalah Obatmu dan Obatmu adalah Makananmu|trans-title=From the Kitchen of Seaweed: Your Food is Your Medicine and Your Medicine is Your Food|lang=id|publisher=Pimedia|date=6 August 2021|isbn=978-623-6488-06-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Utc7EAAAQBAJ&q=teripang%2520emas%2520konsumsi&pg=PA5}}
- {{cite thesis|url=http://discol.umk.edu.my/id/eprint/10658/|title=EFFICACY OF COMMERCIAL GAMAT EXTRACT (Stichopus variegatus) PREPARATION ON STRAY CATS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHIASIS|last=A. Jalalal|first=Syamimi|lang=ms|work=Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine|via=Universiti Malaysia Kelantan|year=2022|access-date=2 June 2025|pages=1–112|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602032548/http://discol.umk.edu.my/id/eprint/10658/1/SYAMIMI%20BINTI%20A.%20JALALAL.pdf|archive-date=2 June 2025|url-status=live}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/currbiomed/article/download/44902/25138/|title=Penyembuhan luka sayatan menggunakan krim ekstrak teripang laut dan kunyit|trans-title=Healing of incision wound using sea cucumber and turmeric extracts cream|last1=Alpayet|first1=Rahmat|last2=Andi Mustika|first2=Aulia|last3=Rahma|first3=Anisa|last4=Andriyanto|first4=Andriyanto|last5=Noviyanti Sutardi|first5=Lina|lang=id|journal=Current Biomedicine|via=IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia|year=2023|volume=1|issue=2|pages=732–751|doi=10.29244/currbiomed.1.2.54-61 |eissn=2985-4784|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601134838/https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/currbiomed/article/download/44902/25138/|archive-date=1 June 2025|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}
