Opinion 
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Discovery of Hyaluronic Acid in the Heart as a Lubricating Mechanism
*Corresponding author:José de la Fuente, SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
Received:July 30, 2025; Published:August 05, 2025
DOI: 10.34297/AJBSR.2025.27.003629
Abstract
Keywords:Amber, Culture, Fossil, Medicine, Paleoproteomics
Amber in Cultural Representations
Amber has been used in multiple cultural representations. For example, in Chinese cultural representations, fossil amber is the symbol of the sun with protection against bad spirits and courage, strength, and resilience mediated by the tiger soul. Amber is also associated with Chinese Buddhism prey and meditation (Fig. 1A). The golden colour of amber is also a symbol of prosperity and wealth represented in decorations and jewelry (Figures 1B-1E). As described in the history of snuff bottles [7], although smoking tobacco was illegal during the Qing dynasty, the use of snuff with amber bottles (Figure 1C) was allowed because it was considered a remedy for common illnesses such as colds, headaches and stomach disorders. Additionally, amber has been involved in cultural communications such as between China and other regions by movement of raw Burmite materials of amber artifacts from Burma to the Central China through Yunnan in the Silk Road by free circulation during Han Dynasty [8].
Amber Fossil Inclusions
Amber fossil inclusions and syninclusions are composed of multiple organisms, including ants (Figure 1B) [9-12] and other arthropods such as ticks [5]. The study of these fossil inclusions provides information on the evolution of the interactions between different organisms (Figure 1E) [13-15] together with functional and ecological habits [9, 10]. The paleoproteomics applied to amber fossil arthropod inclusions are under development [16] and may provide insights into multiple areas including compounds associated with fossil extract preparations in traditional medicine [17].
Amber in Medical Interventions
The multiple cultural representations with amber inspired medical interventions. Accordingly, amber is used in traditional Chinese medicine and Feng Shui for its role in harmonizing individuals with environmental factors and healing properties [2]. Since ca. fifth century AD, amber has been used for medical interventions as a diuretic, to enhance mental stability, stop bleeding, aid in wound healing, to prevent and reduce allergic, neurotoxic and inflammatory effects, and to suppress melanin production, promote collagen production, reduce fat accumulation, and in folk medicine [3, 18-23]. As described by Luo, et al. [23], amber extracts are prepared for medical interventions by crushing, powdering, and extracting in 50% ethanol at 40 °C for 1 h under stirring, and then filtered extracted solution is depressurized and freeze-dried to form an extract powder which is dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide. Amber inclusions may also contribute to compounds (e.g., derived from fossil arthropods) with potential pharmaceutical function [3, 16], thus leading to developing paleopharmaceuticals for medical interventions [24].
Conclusions and Future Directions
The study of fossil amber in different cultures and science provides information to advance in multiple areas of social interest. Amber is not only associated with cultural representations but also with medical interventions. For example, ants are not only of scientific interest in amber fossil inclusions but also as described here, a paradigm for cultural representations and a potential source for medical interventions. Future studies should continue to focus on fossil amber compounds and inclusions with innovative approaches and technologies such as paleoproteomics (Figure 1).
Figure 1:Amber representations with cultural, health and scientific implications. (A) Chinese Buddha. Qing Dynasty, ca. 1900. Acquired from a dealer in Shanghai, China (July 2003). Burmese amber, Myanmar. Mesozoic, Cretaceous (ca. 99 Mya). Dimensions 14.6 x 9.5 cm. (B) Pendant with fossil ant inclusion. Natural Teardrop Jewelry with amber and silver 925. Acquired from a dealer in Lithuania (June 2025). Baltic amber, Eocene (56.0 – 33.9 Mya). Dimensions: 28.4 x 21.5 x 6.8 mm. (C) Chinese amber snuff bottle. Amber carving with fishes and water lily. Qing Dynasty, ca. 1900. Acquired from a dealer in Shanghai, China (July 2003). Burmese amber, Myanmar. Mesozoic, Cretaceous (ca. 99 Mya). Dimensions ca. 8 x 5 cm. (D) Chinese amber bead of antique jewelry necklace from Tibet. Qing Dynasty, ca. 1850-1900. Acquired from NK Antiques in Spain (July 2025). Dimensions 3.5 x 3.4 x 3.5 cm, 39 g. Also shown on plaster sculpture of a child by Fernando Boada Martín, born in Cuba, 1936. (E) Ant handmade brooch 6K gold-plated from art deco period. Acquired from a dealer in Lithuania (June 2025). Baltic amber, Eocene (56.0 – 33.9 Mya). Dimensions: 49 x 40 x 14 mm, 5.2 g. (F) Formica sanguinea worker, blood-red ant. From Saunders (1907), Plate A, No. 3. All pieces are part of the KGJ Collection (Ciudad Real, Spain).
Acknowledgments
Amber and art pieces belong to the KGJ Collection (Ciudad Real, Spain).
Declaration of Conflicting Interest
The author(s) declare no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Ethical Approval and Informed Consent Statements
Not applicable.
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