# Manta Ray Cartilage (Manta birostris)

**Canonical URL:** https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com/ingredients/manta-ray-cartilage
**Data Source:** Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia
**Updated:** 2026-03-25
**Evidence Score:** 2 / 10
**Category:** Protein
**Also Known As:** Manta birostris cartilage, Giant manta ray cartilage, Oceanic manta cartilage, Devil ray cartilage, Manta cartilage extract, Giant ray cartilage

## Overview

Manta ray cartilage (Manta birostris) is a marine-derived tissue theorized to contain antiangiogenic glycoproteins and proteoglycans, compounds that may inhibit new blood vessel formation by interfering with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. Evidence for any human health benefit remains absent, with no clinical trials specifically evaluating manta ray cartilage as a therapeutic or supplemental agent.

## Health Benefits

• No documented health benefits - No human clinical trials exist for manta ray cartilage
• Potential antiangiogenic effects - Related liquid cartilage extracts showed reduced wound vascularization in 40 healthy men (evidence: preliminary, not manta-specific)
• No cancer benefits demonstrated - Similar shark cartilage showed no effect on survival or quality of life in 83 advanced cancer patients (PMID: 15912493)
• Unknown bioavailability - While related liquid cartilage showed oral absorption, no data exists for manta ray cartilage specifically
• No traditional medicinal use documented - Unlike other animal cartilages, no historical therapeutic applications found

## Mechanism of Action

Cartilage-derived tissues from elasmobranch species theoretically contain antiangiogenic proteins such as troponin I homologs and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans that may downregulate VEGF receptor-2 (KDR/Flk-1) signaling, potentially suppressing endothelial cell proliferation. Chondroitin sulfate side chains on aggrecan and versican may competitively bind angiogenic growth factors, reducing their bioavailability at target tissues. These proposed mechanisms are extrapolated from generic cartilage research and shark cartilage studies and have not been validated using manta ray cartilage specifically in any controlled experimental model.

## Clinical Summary

No human clinical trials have been conducted using manta ray cartilage specifically as a supplement or therapeutic agent. A single preliminary study involving liquid cartilage extracts (not confirmed to be manta-derived) observed reduced wound vascularization in 40 healthy male subjects, representing very low-quality, non-specific evidence. The broader shark and ray cartilage literature, including a Phase III randomized controlled trial of shark cartilage (AE-941/Neovastat) in 384 non-small-cell lung cancer patients, found no survival benefit over placebo, casting serious doubt on the antiangiogenic cancer theory for cartilage-based marine supplements. Current evidence is insufficient to support any therapeutic claim for manta ray cartilage in humans.

## Nutritional Profile

{"protein": {"content": "High", "bioavailability": "Moderate"}, "minerals": {"calcium": {"content": "High", "bioavailability": "Moderate"}, "phosphorus": {"content": "Moderate", "bioavailability": "Moderate"}, "magnesium": {"content": "Low", "bioavailability": "Low"}}, "bioactive_compounds": {"chondroitin sulfate": {"content": "Moderate", "bioavailability": "Low"}, "glucosamine": {"content": "Low", "bioavailability": "Low"}}}

## Dosage & Preparation

No clinically studied dosage ranges exist for manta ray cartilage in any form (extract, powder, or standardized). For context only, unrelated shark cartilage was studied at 1 g/kg/day without standardization specified. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

## Safety & Drug Interactions

No formal safety profile or toxicology data exists specifically for manta ray cartilage supplements, making adverse effect prediction difficult. General marine cartilage supplements have been associated with nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and hypersensitivity reactions in individuals with shellfish or fish allergies due to shared glycosaminoglycan and protein antigens. Potential interactions with anticoagulant medications such as warfarin are theoretically possible given that chondroitin sulfate components may have mild antiplatelet activity, though this has not been studied for manta ray cartilage. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid this supplement entirely given the complete absence of safety data, and manta birostris is a protected species under CITES Appendix II, raising serious legal and ethical sourcing concerns.

## Scientific Research

No human clinical trials, RCTs, or meta-analyses specifically on manta ray cartilage (Manta birostris) were identified. A related shark cartilage RCT (PMID: 15912493) in 83 cancer patients found no survival benefit at 1 g/kg/day, while another trial (PMID: 10527711) on liquid cartilage extract showed antiangiogenic effects but was not disease-specific and not confirmed as manta-derived.

## Historical & Cultural Context

No evidence of historical or traditional medicinal use of manta ray cartilage was found in any traditional medicine systems. Modern interest in cartilage supplements stems from 1990s theories about shark cartilage's purported anticancer effects via angiogenesis inhibition, but this is not traditional use and does not apply to manta rays.

## Synergistic Combinations

None identified - no synergistic ingredients documented

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does manta ray cartilage cure or treat cancer?

There is no scientific evidence that manta ray cartilage treats or cures any cancer. The antiangiogenic cancer theory applied to marine cartilage was largely disproven by a Phase III RCT of shark cartilage (Neovastat) in 384 lung cancer patients, which showed no survival benefit versus placebo. Manta ray cartilage has never been tested in any cancer trial.

### What compounds in manta ray cartilage are supposed to be bioactive?

The proposed bioactive compounds include chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans such as aggrecan and versican, along with cartilage-derived antiangiogenic proteins theoretically homologous to troponin I, which has shown VEGF-inhibiting properties in generic cartilage research. Collagen type II fibrils are also present in cartilaginous tissue. None of these have been isolated, characterized, or clinically tested specifically from Manta birostris.

### Is manta ray cartilage legal to buy as a supplement?

Manta birostris (oceanic manta ray) is listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning international trade requires documentation and permits to ensure sourcing does not threaten the species. Supplements claiming to contain genuine manta ray cartilage may therefore be legally restricted or sourced illegally in many jurisdictions. Consumers should verify the legal status of such products in their country before purchasing.

### How does manta ray cartilage compare to shark cartilage supplements?

Both are elasmobranch-derived cartilage products theorized to deliver antiangiogenic glycoproteins and chondroitin sulfate, so their proposed mechanisms are nearly identical. Shark cartilage has been far more extensively studied, including multiple clinical trials, none of which demonstrated meaningful clinical benefit in cancer or other conditions. Manta ray cartilage has zero dedicated clinical data, making it even less supported than shark cartilage.

### What is the recommended dosage of manta ray cartilage?

No evidence-based dosage recommendation exists for manta ray cartilage because no clinical trials have established a safe or effective dose in humans. Shark cartilage trials used doses ranging from 500 mg/kg/day in early studies down to standardized 2.5 g capsules in later trials, none of which proved efficacious. Applying these dosages to manta ray cartilage is entirely speculative and unsupported by data.

### Is manta ray cartilage safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

No safety data exists for manta ray cartilage use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as no human clinical trials have been conducted on this ingredient in these populations. Due to the lack of evidence and the precautionary principle, healthcare providers typically recommend avoiding manta ray cartilage supplements during pregnancy and lactation. Consult with your obstetrician before using any cartilage-based supplement during these sensitive periods.

### What does the scientific evidence actually show about manta ray cartilage effectiveness?

No human clinical trials specifically testing manta ray cartilage exist, making it impossible to establish efficacy for any health condition. Preliminary research on related cartilage extracts showed reduced wound vascularization in only 40 healthy men, but this finding has not been replicated or demonstrated to have clinical relevance. The similar shark cartilage ingredient showed no benefit for cancer survival or quality of life in an 83-patient trial, suggesting cartilage-based supplements lack meaningful therapeutic effects.

### Does manta ray cartilage interact with blood thinners or anti-inflammatory medications?

No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted on manta ray cartilage due to the absence of clinical trials. However, if manta ray cartilage has any antiangiogenic properties (reducing blood vessel formation), it could theoretically interfere with medications like anticoagulants or thrombotics, though this remains speculative. It is essential to disclose manta ray cartilage use to your healthcare provider, particularly if you are taking blood-thinning or cardiovascular medications.

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