Ethnopharmacology, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of edible mud crab Scylla serrata (Forskål, 1775): a review

Scylla serrata (Forskål, 1775), or mud crab or mangrove crab, is an euryhaline edible crab belonging to the family Portunidae. This edible crustacean is used as a delicious foodstuff throughout the world and plays a role in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as tuberculosis, rheumatism, dropsy, bone fracture, asthma, insomnia, rickets, epilepsy, and convulsions. This review compiles and critically examines the reported ethnopharmacological uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of Scylla serrata. All data presented in this paper were collected by utilizing the online databases during 2015–2025. Chemical analysis on Scylla serrata resulted in the presence of proteins, amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and minerals. Chemical constituents will fluctuate depending on the sex, size, and season. Antioxidant, anti-anemic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective activities are reported from the crab. A significant study conducted on Scylla serrata evaluated its antimicrobial activity. Scylla serrata antimicrobial protein (SSAP), chitin, haemocyanin (HC), Scylla serrata beta-glucan binding protein (Ss-β-GBP), scygonadin, Scylla-anti-lipopolysaccharide (Sc-ALF), Scylla crustin (Sc-crustin), lectin, antibacterial haemocyanin (AB-Hcy), and Ss-arasin are the significant antimicrobial compounds isolated from the crab. In vitro research found substantial evidence that Scylla serrata has antioxidant, antianemic, anticancer, antibacterial, and neuroprotective properties. However, all described pharmacological activities were conducted in vitro, indicating a need for further pre-clinical and clinical research. Potential chemical compounds from different parts of the crab may need to be identified, and their pharmacological properties must be established.