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Coral reef. Archive photo/Europa Press
An American team of scientists has discovered that a type of soft coral common off the coast of Florida makes a component chemical to which properties against cancer are attributed, they have reported in a statement.
Their study, published in the journal “Nature Chemical Biology”, is a step forward towards one day producing this compound, eleucerobine, in the laboratory, they point out.
The component was discovered initially in the 90s of the last century by a group of marine scientists who found it. on a rare coral off the coast of Australia. Preliminary experiments indicated that eleucerobine, used by coral as a defense against predators, it inhibited the growth of cancer cells. It was in vain to find sufficient sources of the chemical that would allow the development of drugs, and its recreation in the laboratory was impossible without knowing how it is synthesized in nature, experts point out.
After identifying its existence in these soft corals, researchers led by Eric Schmidt were able to determine the genetic code used to synthesize it.
After following those instructions, they managed to take the first steps to recreate the compound in the laboratory. If it were possible to produce it in higher quantities, eventually more exhaustive tests could be carried out to verify its effectiveness against cancer, they assure.
Researchers affirm that eleucerobine It has advantages over other compounds found in animals for its use in medicine.
One is that, unlike the poisonous chemicals that some species inject, the corals’ chemical is it is made to be ingested and is therefore more digestible.
This means that, if it were to become a medicine, it could be administered as a pill rather than an injection. n and their digestion would also be easier.
“These compounds are more difficult to find, but they are easier to find. It’s easy to make in the lab and easier to take as medicine,” says Schmidt.
The authors find that corals contain many other compounds that could function as anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics and other types, and maintain that the method used on this occasion could be a reference to eventually develop them in the laboratory.