Research by scientists at the University of Utah is a step in the fight against cancer.
A team of American scientists have discovered that a type of soft coral commonly found on the Florida coast makes compounds. Due to anti-cancer propertiesThey reported in a statement.
Their study published in the journal “Nature Chemical Biology”Is one step towards producing that compound one day, eleucerobineIn the lab, they point out.
This component was first discovered in the 1990s by a group of marine scientists found in a rare coral off the coast of Australia. In preliminary experiments, the eleuserobin used by corals as a defense against predators was It suppressed the growth of cancer cells.
Discovered off the coast of Florida by a team of scientists led by Eric Schmidt, the soft coral has the property of fighting cancer.
Over the years, we tried to find it in vain Sufficient source of chemicals It will enable the development of medicines, and that recreation in the laboratory would not have been possible without knowing how it was synthesized in nature, experts point out.
After confirming their existence in these soft corals, Eric Schmidt of the University of Utah. They were able to determine the genetic code to use to synthesize it.
After following these instructions, they managed to take the first step Recreate the compound in the lab. If it can be produced in higher quantities, they say, eventually more thorough testing may be performed to verify its effectiveness against cancer.
Researchers claim that eleuserobin has advantages Other compounds found in animals For use in medicine.
Eric Schmidt, a scientist at the University of Utah, who led the team that discovered the sea anemones in a soft coral off the coast of Florida, USA.
One is that coral chemicals are different from the toxic chemicals that some species inject. Made to be eaten Therefore, it is easier to digest.
This is, if it were a medicine Its administration can be done via pills Instead of an injection, it also makes digestion easier.
“These compounds are hard to find, but Easy to create in the lab It’s easier to take as a medicine, “says Schmidt.
The authors found that coral contains many other compounds that may function as follows: Anti-inflammatory agent, He argues that antibiotics and other types, and the methods used on this occasion, could ultimately become the benchmark for developing them in the laboratory.
Source: Clarin
