From Ecological Threat to Bioactive Resource - The Nutraceutical Components of Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)

Sep 30, 2026

Native to the western Atlantic, the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus (CS) has spread to the Mediterranean, disturbing local ecosystems and mussel aquaculture while driving severe ecological and financial losses in Italy and other regions. Owing to rapid expansion and socio-economic effects, several countries are beginning CS commercialization, though consumer interest remains limited. This study characterizes nutrient and nutraceutical profiles of CS meats, assessing differences by sex and meat type. CS meats provide high-quality proteins with all essential amino acids, and their lipid fraction shows low atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, suggesting cardiovascular benefits. The nutraceutical fraction includes polyphenols and astaxanthin with strong antioxidant activity after simulated gastrointestinal hydrolysis, plus α-glucosidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory effects relevant to glycaemic control and hypertension.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

1. Introduction

Alien species and invasive spread

Ecological and economic impacts of blue crab

Management and research needs

Article From Ecological Threat to Bioactive Resource: The Nutraceutical Components of Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Annalaura Brai 1, Lorenzo Tiberio 1, Matteo Chiti 2, Federica Poggialini 1, Chiara Vagaggini 1, Guia Consales 2, Letizia Marsili 2 and Elena Dreassi 1, * Academic Editor: Yan Zhang Received: 28 November 2025 Revised: 22 December 2025 Accepted: 25 December 2025 Published: 30 December 2025 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1 Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy; [annalaura.brai@unisi.it](annalaura.brai@unisi.it) (A.B.); [lorenzo.tiberio@student.unisi.it](lorenzo.tiberio@student.unisi.it) (L.T.); [federic.poggialini@unisi.it](federic.poggialini@unisi.it) (F.P.); [chiara.vagaggini@student.unisi.it](chiara.vagaggini@student.unisi.it) (C.V.) 2 Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, Università degli Studi di Siena, 4, Via P.A. Mattioli, 53100 Siena, Italy; m.chiti7@student.unisi.it (M.C.); [guia.consales@unisi.it](guia.consales@unisi.it) (G.C.); [letizia.marsili@unisi.it](letizia.marsili@unisi.it) (L.M.) * Correspondence: [elena.dreassi@unisi.it](elena.dreassi@unisi.it) Abstract Native to the western Atlantic, the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus (CS) has spread to the Mediterranean, affecting local ecosystems and mussel aquaculture and leading to severe ecological and financial losses in Italy and other areas. Given its rapid spread and socio-economic impacts, several countries have begun to exploit CS commercially, but the consumers’ interest is still limited. In this study, we analysed both nutrient and nutraceutical profiles of CS meats, evaluating potential differences related to sex and meat typology. We found that CS meats are rich in high quality proteins and contain all the essential amino acids required for a correct diet. The fat of CS is not only rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but also displays remarkably low atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, highlighting its strong potential in promoting cardiovascular health. In addition, CS is rich in nutraceutical compounds, in particular polyphenols and astaxanthin, revealing a good antioxidant activity maintained after simulated gastrointestinal hydrolysis. Last but not least, CS has remarkable α-glucosidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity, highlighting potential benefits in controlling glycaemic peaks and hypertension. Keywords: alien species; type-2 diabetes; antioxidants; astaxanthin; angiotensin-converting enzyme 1. Introduction According to Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014, an “alien species” is any animal, plant, fungus, or microorganism introduced outside its natural range. Alien species are defined as invasive alien species (IAS) when they negatively impact biodiversity, ecosystems, or the economy [1] . IAS are closely linked to economic activity, with trade being a major driver of their spread; interestingly, the volume of international commerce can serve as a useful predictor of the number of IAS in a given country [2,3] . Maritime transport, through ballast water and organisms attached to ship hulls, is one of the most common and almost inevitable mechanisms for the spread of aquatic alien species, largely driven by globalised shipping and trade. In this regard, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (CS), which is endemic to the western Atlantic, has spread throughout areas of the Mediterranean and is regarded as invasive [4,5] . The Mediterranean Sea shows significant regional ecological variability, and while some studies have been conducted in parts of this basin, there is still a lack of data on blue crabs caught near the Italian coast [6] . Although the invasion of the Mediterranean by CS has become increa

FAQs

Why is Callinectes sapidus considered an invasive alien species in the Mediterranean?

CS spreads beyond its native western Atlantic range into the Mediterranean and negatively impacts biodiversity and ecosystems and affects the economy, fitting the definition of invasive alien species described in the article.

What nutritional properties of CS meat are highlighted in the study?

The study reports that CS meats contain high-quality proteins with all essential amino acids required for a correct diet.

Which nutraceutical compounds and bioactivities does the article associate with CS?

CS is rich in polyphenols and astaxanthin, showing antioxidant activity after simulated gastrointestinal hydrolysis, and it exhibits α-glucosidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity relevant to glycaemic peaks and hypertension.

Sep 30, 2026

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