Monday 23 May 2022 04:28 PM Could sea corals be used to treat CANCER? Scientists discover 'holy grail' ... trends now
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Scientists have taken a huge step forward in the search for a new treatment for cancer, after discovering a 'holy grail' natural anti-cancer chemical in common soft corals.
The chemical, called eleutherobin, was previously identified in a rare coral near Australia in the 1990s, but since then scientists have been unable to find it in high enough quantities for use in a lab.
Now, researchers from the University of Utah have discovered the elusive chemical is also produced by common soft corals living off the coast of Florida.
The team now hopes to recreate the soft coral in the laboratory, in the hope of producing the chemical in the large quantities needed for rigorous testing.
One day, the chemical could be used as a new tool to fight cancer, according to the team.
Scientists have taken a huge step forward in the search for a new treatment for cancer, after discovering a 'holy grail' natural anti-cancer chemical in common soft corals (pictured)
Eleutherobin is used by soft corals as a defence against predators, with the chemical disrupting the cytoskeleton – a key scaffold in cells.
However, laboratory studies have shown that the compound can also inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Having grown up in Florida, Dr Paul Scesa, first author of the study, suspected corals in the area might contain the elusive chemical.
Dr Scesa brought small live samples of corals from Florida to the laboratory in Utah, where the real hunt began.
While previous studies have suggested that
