Effects of Drying Methods on the Chemical Composition of the Sea Cucumber Holothuria forskali

The effects of artisanal and controlled oven drying methods on the biochemical composition of the body wall of the sea cucumber, Holothuria forskali were investigated. Five combinations of temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%) levels were tested (50°C, 20%, 60°C, 25%; 60°C, 15%, 60°C, 20% and 70°C, 20%). The results demonstrate that the treatment (60°C and 20%) yields an improvement of the nutritional quality of the initial product. Improvements were particularly noted in terms of the amount of total proteins and the polyunsaturated fatty acids level in the dry body wall of H. forskali.