Gamat

Dried sea cucumber (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. ^[1] 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. ^[2]

Uses

Sea cucumbers are found in various colours; some are black, white, or grey, and striped with the golden sea cucumber ( Stichopus horrens ), ^[3] which is commonly used for medical purposes. ^{[4] [5]} 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. ^[6]

The Stichopus variegatus are used in the production of traditional Gamat oil, ointment, and gel in both Indonesia and Malaysia. ^[7] 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. ^[8] The Stichopus variegatus extract also shows to be effective in reducing the gastrointestinal worm burden on stray cats. ^[7]

Another species Stichopus chloronotus is used for combating various types of ringworm infections, which are formulate into cream, ointment, lotion or solution. ^[9]

Teripang Emas ( Stichopus herrmanni ), a type of Indonesian gamat (Indonesian : teripang laut) is usually the dried, powdered bodies of sea cucumbers made into a lotion or other topical salve. ^{[10] [11]} It is sometimes mixed into clay and applied to the face as a mask treatment, or put in tea and consumed for stomach complaints. ^[12]

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 . ^[13] The same faculty also found that the water extract of teripang emas has a positive benefit in the wound healing process. ^[14]

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. ^[15] 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. ^[16]

See also

• Trepanging

References

1. Mazliadiyana, Nazrun & Isa 2017, p. 83.
2. Jamaluddin 2007, p. vii.
3. "Gamat, Khazanah dari Laut" [Gamat, Treasure from the Sea](PDF). Forest Research Institute Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 2 June 2025.
4. Hafiz Leong et al. 2021, p. 732.
5. Kustiariyah 2007, p. 3.
6. Mao, Jing; Li, Shunqin; Fu, RongRong; Wang, Yijin; Meng, Jing; Jin, Yan; Wu, Wu; Zhang, Min; Vinson, Joe (2023). "Sea Cucumber Hydrolysate Alleviates Immunosuppression and Gut Microbiota Imbalance Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Balb/c Mice through the NF-κB Pathway". Foods. 12 (8): 1604. doi: 10.3390/foods12081604 . PMC   10137554 . PMID   37107399.
7. A. Jalalal 2022, p. 11.
8. Halim & Abdul Rani 2017, p. 51.
9. "Sea cucumbers to combat infections (Picture attached)". Universiti Sains Malaysia. 21 March 2006. Archived from the original on 2 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025– via Asia Research News.
10. ( Alpayet et al. 2023 , p. 58–60)
11. "Manfaat Super Teripang Emas bagi Kulit dan Kecantikan" [Super Benefits of Golden Sea Cucumber for Skin and Beauty]. Tempo (in Indonesian). 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
12. Pahrurodji 2021, p. 5.
13. Devi Oktaviani, Wahjuningsih & Andriani 2018, p. 10.
14. Damaiyanti 2015, p. 74.
15. James Ong, Elliott; Suk Teng, Chin (January 2022). "A Rapid Assessment of Online Trade in Sea Cucumber and Fish Maw in Malaysia and Singapore" (PDF). Traffic. p. 33. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
16. ( Vaitilingon et al. 2016 , p. 67)

Bibliography

• Jamaluddin, Ahmad Badawi (2007). PENGGUNAAN UBATAN TRADISIONAL DI PASAR TAMU DAN PASAR BESAR DAERAH TAWAU, SABAH: SATU TINJAUAN [USE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN WEEKLY MARKET AND MAIN MARKET IN TAWAU DISTRICT, SABAH: A REVIEW](PDF). Conservation Biology Program School of Science and Technology (Thesis) (in Malay). pp. 1–27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025– via Universiti Malaysia Kelantan.
• Kustiariyah (2007). "TERIPANG SEBAGAI SUMBER PANGAN DAN BIOAKTIF" [SEA CUCUMBER AS A FOOD AND BIOACTIVE SOURCE]. Indonesian Journal of Aquatic Product Technology [Buletin Teknologi Hasil Perikanan] (in Indonesian). X (1): 1–8. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025.
• Damaiyanti, Dian Widya (2015). "Karakterisasi Esktrak Air Teripang Emas (Stichopus hermanii)" [Characterization Of Water Extract Gold Sea Cucumber (Stichopus hermanii)]. Denta (Jurnal Kedokteran Gigi) (in Indonesian). 9 (1): 1–8. ISSN   1907-5987. Archived from the original on 2 June 2025. Text is licensed by DENTA (Journal Kedokteran Gigi) under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
• Vaitilingon, Devarajen; Smith, Stuart; Watson, Guy; Miller, Tim; Alattas, Syed; Ong Hock, Keat; Zainoddin, Jamari; Zaidnuddin, Ilias; Azhar, Hamzah (2016). "Sea cucumber hatchery seed production in Malaysia: From research and development, to pilot-scale production of the sandfish Holothuria scabra" (PDF). SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin (36): 67–75 – via Sustainable Aquaculture Research & Development (Mauritius).
• Halim, Adilla Nur; Abdul Rani, Aidatul Azura; et al. (Kadri, Rozeeda; Abdul Aziz, Farhana; Ridzuan, Mohd Naufal; Hassan, Ali Noor; Wazir, Maznah; Arzeni, Lydiawati) (2017). "Amalan Perubatan Tradisional Melayu bagi Penjagaan Ibu-Ibu Selepas Bersalin di Negeri Kelantan" [Traditional Malay Medical Practices for Postpartum Maternal Care in Kelantan](PDF). Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practice Branch, Traditional and Complementary Medicine Division, Ministry of Health of Malaysia (in Malay): 1–90. ISBN   978-983-44782-9-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2025.
• Mazliadiyana, M; Nazrun, AS; Isa, NM (2017). "Optimum Dose of Sea Cucumber (Stichopus Chloronotus) Extract for Wound Healing" (PDF). Med & Health. 12 (1): 83–89. doi:10.17576/MH.2017.1201.09.
• Devi Oktaviani, Paramita; Wahjuningsih, Endah; Andriani, Dwi (2018). "Efektivitas Suplementasi Teripang Emas (Stichopus Hermanii) Dalam Mencegah Terjadinya Oral Candidiasis Pada Tikus Wistar" [Effectivity of Stichopus hermanii Supplementation to Prevent Oral Candidiasis on Rats]. Denta (Jurnal Kedokteran Gigi) (in Indonesian). 12 (1): 9–15. doi:10.30649/denta.v12i1.155. ISSN   1907-5987. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Text is licensed by DENTA (Journal Kedokteran Gigi) under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
• Hafiz Leong, Muhamad Nur; Mohd Fauzi, Noor Akhmazillah; Rahim Kamarudin, Kamarul; Mohamed Rehan, Aisyah (2021). "Investigation of Bioactive Compounds from Sea Cucumber Extract and Stingless Bee Honey Using Critical Literature Review and Bioinformatics Approach for Potential Synergy Combination". Progress in Engineering Application and Technology. 2 (2): 732–751. eISSN   2773-5303. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025 – via Universiti Tun Hussein Onn.
• Pahrurodji, Purwanti (6 August 2021). Dari Dapur Rumput Laut: Makananmu adalah Obatmu dan Obatmu adalah Makananmu [From the Kitchen of Seaweed: Your Food is Your Medicine and Your Medicine is Your Food] (in Indonesian). Pimedia. ISBN   978-623-6488-06-5.
• A. Jalalal, Syamimi (2022). EFFICACY OF COMMERCIAL GAMAT EXTRACT (Stichopus variegatus) PREPARATION ON STRAY CATS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHIASIS. Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Thesis) (in Malay). pp. 1–112. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025– via Universiti Malaysia Kelantan.
• Alpayet, Rahmat; Andi Mustika, Aulia; Rahma, Anisa; Andriyanto, Andriyanto; Noviyanti Sutardi, Lina (2023). "Penyembuhan luka sayatan menggunakan krim ekstrak teripang laut dan kunyit" [Healing of incision wound using sea cucumber and turmeric extracts cream]. Current Biomedicine (in Indonesian). 1 (2): 732–751. doi: 10.29244/currbiomed.1.2.54-61 . eISSN   2985-4784. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025 – via IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia.