Submarine Cancer Support

2001/02/27 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Medikuntza
• Ozeanografia

In this gigantic pharmacy, known as the "underwater laboratory," researchers are constantly looking for new medicines.

According to a chemist at the National Cancer Institute, coral reefs are very complex and rich ecosystems, even from a chemical point of view. For example, in the adjacent sponges, a distribution line can sometimes be seen representing the chemical battle they perform to preserve their area. These and many other substances are used in research.

Coral reefs can be a source of many new medicines. One of them is the vegetable aspect Bugula meritine. This produces a component called bryostatin-1 that, according to clinical trials, appears to be effective against certain types of cancer such as melanoma, lymphoma, or nephroma. Another is the shelled mollusc Dolabella auricularia. This results in a substance called dolastatin 10 that is being used in cancer research.

In the last two decades they have gathered hundreds of components underwater and demonstrated their medical effectiveness. Without a doubt, considering that the "underwater pharmacy" is almost unlimited, in the future we will know the drugs against many other diseases.