Starfish is an invertebrate in the ocean. A starfish has a star-shaped body consisting of a central disk with five or more arms extending outward. Their bodies come in a variety of colors and shapes, and some species have arms that can reach tens of centimeters or even meters in length.
Starfish have many tiny spines on their skin that vary in length and density, and some even glow. They usually live on the bottom of shallow seas and like to hide under reefs, seaweeds, and sandy beaches. They are benthic and feed mainly on shellfish, crabs, seaweed, and other small benthic organisms.
Starfish have a unique digestive system that can swallow food by mouth, extend the stomach through the mouth to cover the prey and inject gastric digestive juice into the prey for digestion. They are also prey for prey, preyed on by fish, birds, seals, and more.
Starfish are a very important member of the ecosystem and play an important role in maintaining the balance and stability of the marine ecosystem.
They can help clean up humus and degrade organic matter at the bottom, prevent the accumulation and enrichment of seabed sediments, and promote the circulation and oxygen supply of water bodies.
In addition, the arms of starfish can regenerate, and some species can even regrow their entire bodies, so they also have certain medical value.
Starfish can "walk". Although starfish have no legs, they can move through the movement of tube feet, which is called "walking". There are hundreds of tube feet in starfish, which can be stretched freely and are very flexible.
The eyes of starfish grow on the legs, and some starfish have eyes not on the head, but on the arms or tube feet, which allows them to better observe the surrounding environment and find prey.
Starfish can change colors, and some starfish can blend in with the surrounding environment by changing the color of their bodies to avoid predators or lurking near their prey, waiting for an opportunity to attack.
Starfish has some medical application value, mainly in the following aspects:
1. Promote wound healing: The body of starfish can regenerate, and it contains many ingredients that can promote wound healing, such as collagen, protein enzymes, and amino acids. For this reason, some medical products and medicines use starfish extract as an ingredient in the treatment of various wounds and wounds.
2. Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial: Starfish contains some anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial compounds, such as sulfide and saponin. Therefore, starfish is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology to treat various diseases such as inflammation, infection, and allergy.
3. Lower cholesterol: Some studies have shown that starfish contains some compounds that can lower cholesterol levels, such as saponins and polysaccharides. Therefore, starfish is considered to be a natural medicinal material capable of preventing cardiovascular diseases.
4. Promote the immune system: Starfish contains some compounds that can strengthen the immune system, such as polysaccharides and fatty acids. These compounds can stimulate the body's immune cells and improve immunity, thereby preventing and treating various diseases.
It should be noted that starfish is not a common ingredient, nor is it a common medicinal material. Therefore, when using starfish extracts or medicines, you should follow the advice of your doctor or pharmacist and use them with caution.
