Badyaga - freshwater sponge (Spongilla). Freshwater Sponge

Sponges are aquatic, mainly marine animals. Their body is made up of two layers of cells. The lips are completely immobile and incapable of feeling irritation. About 5000 species of this type of animal are known.

The structure of the badyagi sponge. In summer, in lakes and rivers near the shore, brown or greenish growths can be seen on stones and on tree branches that have fallen into the water. Taken out of the water, they emit a sharp unpleasant odor.

Looking more closely, you can see that the entire surface of such an outgrowth, as if traces of pin pricks, is riddled with numerous tiny holes. The growth is slimy to the touch, but if you tear off a piece from it and rub it between your fingers, you feel that there are tiny hard particles inside. The growth tightly grows together with a branch or stone and does not have a definite shape. It is hard to believe that this peculiar animal is a freshwater sponge badyaga.

A young sponge looks like a small pouch with a cavity inside. It differs in the sole, with which the sponge grows to various underwater objects, the side walls and the hole at the top - the mouth.

The body is made up of many cells arranged in two layers. In the outer layer, the cells are flattened, they close together and, as it were, envelop the body of the sponge. In some cells of this layer there are holes - pores leading inside the body. The inner layer of cells is very different from the outer. Each of its cells is equipped with a flagellum facing the inner cavity of the sponge. The movement of the flagella creates a constant flow of water, which enters the cavity through small pores in the cells of its side walls and is brought out through the mouth. Together with water, food enters the sponge - bacteria and other microscopic organisms. Flagella cells capture them and digest them.

The sponge has a skeleton consisting of a large number of tiny solid bodies in the form of needles, anchors, polygonal stars. The skeleton consists of mineral salts and horn-like organic matter. It is these needles that prick the skin when the sponge is rubbed between the fingers.

As the sponge grows, the structure becomes more complex. Protrusions appear on its side walls, at the ends of which new mouths appear. The grown sponge does not look like a young one at all: it looks like a loose porous mass with numerous holes - mouths and pores.

The practical importance of sponges. Only a few dozen species of sponges live in fresh water bodies, but they are very numerous in the seas. Especially widely known is the Greek sponge, devoid of a calcareous skeleton, living at a shallow depth in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The extracted sponges are kneaded for a long time and the destroyed cells are washed with water. As a result, an elastic mass of a horn-like substance remains - a toilet sponge. Dried and crushed freshwater badyaga is used in medicine for the treatment of rheumatism - it is rubbed with powder on sore spots.

water sponges(porifera, spongia) - the most mysterious creatures. They are so primitively organized that until the beginning of the 19th century they were considered plants. They have no sense organs, and adults are also deprived of the ability to move. They do not have a mouth opening. Food intake is carried out by filtering water through the channels and labyrinths with which their bodies are dotted. The sponge is immortal and invulnerable. It can be rubbed through a sieve and its particles will then gather again into a new viable organism.

It has been observed that the water around sponge colonies remains clear even though many sponges die. In addition, several decades ago it was found that some aquatic animals die if chemicals extracted from sponges are dissolved in the water they are in. The action of substances secreted by various sponges was tested on pathogens grown in laboratory conditions. These substances killed most of the microbes.

One example is Okinawan sea sponges (Okinawan plakortis), from which a tyramine-containing pyrrolidine alkaloid, plakoridine A, has been obtained, which has significant potential and is being studied as a cytotoxin in lymphoma cells in mice.

One of the first drugs to treat cancer, cytosine arabinoside, was isolated from a Caribbean sponge.

Sponges and their microscopic endosymbionts are currently being actively studied as possible sources of drugs for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Sponges have great medicinal potential due to the presence in most of them or their symbionts of chemicals that have antiviral, antibacterial, antitumor and antifungal properties.

Having by their nature no protective shell or organ for protection, sponges are vulnerable to harmful microorganisms, as a result of their evolution has led to the development of the ability to synthesize various unusual protective chemical compounds. One example is a family of compounds formed by the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids called oxylipins. The compounds of this family have been found to have anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Subtropical sponge red beard ( Microciona prolifera)

Substances isolated from the subtropical red-bearded sponge turned out to be highly effective in the treatment of tuberculosis. Substances discovered by researchers in plankton (the smallest aquatic organisms) also have a detrimental effect on tubercle bacilli.

From the substances of the red-bearded sponge ( Microciona prolifera) managed to obtain two drugs - water and fat-soluble. The first is used in the form of inhalations of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract, and the second is used to lubricate the mucous membranes. In both cases, a significant therapeutic effect was found.

Caribbean sponges

Other physiologically active substances have also been obtained from various types of sponges. In 1950, the unique properties of one of the species of the Caribbean sponge were discovered. Its nucleic acids do not contain ribose, which is the key ingredient in almost all nucleic acids, but arabinose. Based on the data on the study of the nucleic acids of this sponge, several compounds containing arabinose instead of ribose have been synthesized.

Thus, cytosine arabinosis was obtained. The mechanism of its action on human blood cells affected by leukemia is that it replaces the ribose of these cells with arabinose and, thereby delaying their growth, eventually kills cancer cells. This drug proved to be effective in a fairly large number of cases and, although the results of the experiments are still far from ideal, it served as the basis for the creation of more effective drugs. After ten years of research, cytosine arabinosis was approved by the US federal government for mass production. In the former USSR, this compound is used under the name "cytarabine".

Also, ageliferin is an antiviral and antimicrobial chemical compound that is produced by some sponges. It was first isolated from Caribbean sponges and later from Okinawan marine sponges of the genus Agelas.

Caribbean sponge Tectitethya Crypta (or Cryptotethya Crypta and Tethya Crypta), common class ( Demospongia), row Hadromerida, families Tethyidae. From this sponge, nucleosides (spongothymidine, spongouridine) were isolated, which are the basis for antiviral and anticancer drugs, in particular drugs for leukemia. From the same sponge, a substance was isolated that proved effective in the treatment of viral encephalitis.

Badyaga (freshwater sponge)

It is impossible not to remember the freshwater sponge that is sold in our pharmacies - this is a badyaga ( Spongilla). Badyagovye ( Spongillidae) - a family of freshwater sponges from the class of ordinary ( Demospongia). Pharmacy badyaga is a powder for the preparation of medicines. In a living state, it has the appearance of a yellow-brown or olive-greenish mucous mass. Badyaga reaches 40 cm in length and densely overgrows objects in the water and tree trunks that serve as its support. She lives in rivers, ponds and swamps.

It has its medicinal effect mainly due to its constituent flint needles, interconnected by an organic substance - spongin, or sponginin. The composition of bodyaga also includes phosphate and carbonate salts of lime and a number of organic substances.

Since ancient times badyaga has been dried and used in the form of a powder, suspensions (solutions) and ointments that cause severe mechanical irritation of the skin, with rheumatic and neurological pains, sciatica, arthritis, rheumatism and bruising, with external treatment of hematomas and bruises. Mechanical irritation of the skin enhances blood circulation, as a result of the use of badyagi, skin pores are cleansed and narrowed, dead cells of the epidermis are removed, and age spots after inflamed acne dissolve. In addition, skin oxygenation, the synthesis of biologically active substances, redox processes are stimulated, the result is a refreshment and smoothing of the skin, as well as an improvement in tone and color. What for tired and aging skin is manifested by signs of rejuvenation.

It was also used as a blush, which ultimately led to irreparable damage to the skin.

In folk medicine, bodyaga is used in the form of masks for treatment, as well as to remove post-acne pigment spots.

Contraindications: individual intolerance, not recommended for open wounds and ulcers, very dry and thin, easily irritated and sensitive skin, with even slight hair growth on the skin, with dilated blood vessels. With frequent use of badyagi, irritation, redness and overdrying of the skin, as well as severe mechanical damage to the skin, are possible.

It is also necessary to carry out a preliminary check for an allergic reaction: a small amount of the mixture, before applying to the skin of the face, must be applied to a small area of ​​​​skin in an inconspicuous place, if redness occurs, it is not recommended to use badyaga.

Marine New Zealand Sponges (Halichondria Maori)

The healing properties of sea sponges Halichondria moorei (Halichondria moorei) have long been known to the natives of New Zealand, who used them to treat wounds. In the journal Science (1979. No. 4422) it was reported that a large amount of fluorine was found in these sponges - up to 11.5% of the dry mass. They have an increased ability to accumulate it.

It was found that the therapeutic activity is due to the content of the long-known sodium fluorosilicate Na 2 SiF 6 , which reduces the local inflammatory response. The healing effect of halichondria applied to the wound is that the wound does not become inflamed. However, this agent is unlikely to find application in scientific medicine, since sodium fluorosilicate is a toxic compound - its intraperitoneal administration to mice causes convulsions.

Toilet Greek Sponge (Spongia officinalis)

Toilet sponge (Spongia officinalis) or Greek sponge (Euspongia officinalis) is one of a group of types of toilet sponges, widely used in the household, as a household washcloth, before the invention of synthetic analogues. Currently, it is used less frequently and, as a rule, not for domestic purposes, but as a sponge for cosmetic procedures and in homeopathy. It lives throughout the Mediterranean Sea, where its catch was carried out quite widely and led to a serious depletion of natural reserves.

A living sponge is gray in color, dried becomes yellow or brown-red in color (similar to foam rubber, but softer). Not to be confused with washcloths from plant origin.

Rich in iodine and bromine, toilet sponge is currently used in Europe as a homeopathic remedy, and can also be found in online pharmacies under the name "Greek Sponge". Toilet sponge is indicated for thyroid dysfunction, as well as related: palpitations, shortness of breath and hot flashes. Considered an effective cough suppressant. The inorganic salts contained in this sponge are considered an excellent remedy for diseases of the mucous membranes. It is also used for spasmodic and acute dry coughs, as well as throat diseases, in particular from laryngitis.

Therapeutic properties: contains iodine, bromine, calcium carbonate, potassium phosphate, silicon dioxide and other organic substances with medicinal properties.

Action: activates the functions of the upper respiratory tract, reduces spasms during breathing and acts directly on the larynx. It relieves disorders, as it stimulates the production of saliva.

Main purpose: used in cases of respiratory failure, hoarseness, cough. It is also used in cases of heart failure or inflammatory diseases of the heart. In psychology, the main area of ​​​​application is panic attacks, especially at night: it allows you to balance breathing and relieves the feeling of suffocation.

Cooking: Captured sea sponges must be cleaned and dried until they acquire their characteristic brown color. After that, they are ground into powder, and then the extract is extracted, which serves as the basis for homeopathic preparations.

A freshwater sponge, which, due to its structure, is actively used in medicine as a local irritant.

Ask the experts

In medicine

Outwardly badyagu is used for bruises and for the treatment of bruises, accompanied by the appearance of bruising; as a local anesthetic for pain in the muscles and joints of a rheumatic nature, with neuralgia, sciatica.

Sports gel Toughgay against bruises

Warming gel Tufgay Energy

In cosmetology

The cosmetic industry produces ointments, creams, gels, peelings based on badyagi. Badyagu is used as a remedy for acne. She dries them and prevents the appearance of new ones, and also fights black dots. In addition, the use of badyagi from bruises, as well as against stretch marks and cellulite, is common.

Attention! Care must be taken when using badyagi, as it can cause severe irritation, allergies and be harmful to the skin.

Classification

Badyagi belong to the Badyagov family (Spongillidae), the type of Sponges (Spongia or Porifera). About 20 species of freshwater badyag sponges live in the CIS, but only a few species have found application in medical practice: Spongilla lacustris L., S. Fragilis Leidy, Ephydatia fluviatilis (L.)

Botanical description

Appearance

Badyagi are primitive multicellular freshwater sponges that form immobile colonies in the form of growths of various shapes. Young colonies form a crust 2-3 mm thick. Perennial colonies reach a weight of several kilograms. River badyagi form lumpy outgrowths up to 70 cm long and 30 cm thick, lake ones - bushy finger-shaped outgrowths up to 1 m long. The sponge feeds, filtering suspended microorganisms through small pores into the internal cavity, which opens with larger excretory stomata. Sponges are active in summer; in autumn, the colonies die off, forming asexually internal buds - gemmules, surrounded by a dense shell of cell clusters. These overwintering buds, about 0.5 mm in diameter, are visible on the fracture as yellow or brown grains. In the spring, a new colony develops from gemmules. The color of the colonies from grayish to green depends on the algae living in the body of the sponges.

Structure

The body of the badyagi is covered with a dermal membrane, inside there is a complex system of channels and cavities. The cavities are lined with flagellated cells. Between the channels there are a large number of spicules. Spicules are thin silica needles that form the skeleton of the badyagi. They are smooth or spiny, straight or curved, prismatic, pointed at the poles. The spicules are glued together by a protein called spongin or sponginoline, which is similar in chemical composition to silk. When rubbing badyagi, tingling and a sharp unpleasant odor are felt. Along with spicules, one can sometimes observe amphidisks - rods with two perpendicular star-shaped disks at the ends.

Badyagi also contains phosphate and carbonate salts of lime and a number of organic substances.

Spreading

Badyaga is found at shallow depths in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, ponds and streams, settling near the coast on stones, stems, sunken snags and tree trunks.

Sponges reach the greatest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions of the oceans.

Distribution regions on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

Medicinal raw materials, from which the drug is produced, are collected throughout the summer and dried colonies of intestinal-cavitary freshwater animals - badyag.

Sponge colonies are separated from the submerged objects to which it is attached, placed in a bucket or box, cleaned of silt, sand, bark residues, wood and washed in water. Dry under the open sky in the sun or in an attic under an iron roof. After drying, impurities are removed from the raw material.

When harvesting raw materials, one should be careful with badyag colonies, since the contact of silicon needles with the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose causes their irritation.

The raw material is represented by light, porous small- or large-meshed brittle pieces of various shapes and sizes, easily crumbling when rubbed with a rough feeling from the presence of silicon needles.

Pharmacological properties

Badyaga is used as a local irritant. The pharmacological activity of the drug is due to silica needles. Sharp silica crystals mechanically cause severe irritation of the skin at the site of rubbing, expansion of subcutaneous capillaries and deeper blood vessels. This helps to activate the superficial blood supply, relieve local pain and provide an excellent resolving effect on the affected areas.

When badyagi is used, local release of biologically active substances occurs: autacoids, kinins, histamine, prostaglandins, which contribute to the healing of damaged tissues, the resorption of scars, bruises and seals, and also restore the protective functions of the skin.

Usually, the application of badyagi to the skin is accompanied by a weak heating effect and temporary local reddening of the skin.

When using the drug, the following precautions must be observed: do not allow the badyaga to get on the mucous membranes (in the eyes, mouth, nose, etc.), since the badyaga causes their irritation. In case of contact with the drug on the mucous membranes, it is necessary to wash them with plenty of water.

Literature

1. State Register of Medicines. Moscow 2004. Volume 1.

2. State Register of Medicines. Moscow 2004. Volume II. Part 1. Typical clinical and pharmacological articles.

3. Big medical encyclopedia. Second edition. Moscow. 1957. Volume 3.

4. B.M. Korshikov, A.D. Mityukov, S.G. Shamruk. "Procurement of wild products." Minsk; 1977.

5. Encyclopedia of medicinal herbs "Zerde-press".

6. Pharmacopoeia article 42-1564-00 "Badyaga".

7. Medicinal plants./Comp. V. Rasshchupkina, G. Yakubovich. - Kaliningrad: Publishing house "Kaliningradskaya Pravda", 1974 - 240 p.

8. Yu. V. Efimchenko, A.V. White. Medicinal plants. Guidelines for physicians and pharmacists. - Labinsk, "Uprizdat", 1974

9. Shatokhina R. K. Medicinal raw materials of animal origin. - St. Petersburg: SPbKhFI, 1994. - 56 p.