The smallest marine medicines

2001/06/08 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biologia
• Farmakologia

Marine living beings are investigated from time immemorial to obtain effective substances that are part of the medicines. Some American researchers claim that microorganisms present in these living beings can be a source of new medicines.

Researchers analyze poisons produced by many marine animals, some of them with cancer effects. For example, from the ascidia Polysyncraton lithostrotum, which inhabits the corals of the Fiji Islands, they brought out namenamycin. This chemical affects DNA, so it can be used against cancer cells.

Later, however, scientists discovered that namenamycin resembled a series of substances that secrete actinomycetic bacteria. In addition, these bacterial substances are also investigating their use against cancer. The researchers then took the bacteria from ascites and let them reproduce.

Surprised, they discovered two substances that kill tumor cells. The bacteria have been called Micromonospora lomaivitiensis and the two effective substances produced by lomaibiticine A and B. Lomaibiticine also has an antibiotic effect and has proven effective against Staphylococcus aureus, a very harmful bacteria in hospitals.

It seems that those seeking medicines at sea, in addition to animals and plants, will have to investigate the bacteria from now on.