Abstract
Marine organisms represent a significant source for foods and medicines. Phascolosoma esculenta as an edible marine organism grows in the intertidal zone along the southern coast of China. It is high in protein and low in fat with excellent nutritional value. Various studies have shown that P. esculenta contains numerous bioactive ingredients with potential physiological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, liver and cardiovascular protective, cerebrovascular protective, and immune-regulating properties. Moreover, P. esculenta possesses a range of antioxidant proteins that mitigate oxidative damage resulting from environmental stress, making it a candidate for use in environmental monitoring. Therefore, it holds significant potential across various sectors, including food, medicine, nutrition and health care, and environmental monitoring. This paper concludes by summarizing the bioactive ingredients and functions of P. esculenta as well as various research technologies related to marine functional foods, aiming to provide a foundation for developing P. esculenta into green foods or medicinal products.