Cancer cure found in "mermaid hair"
A chemical compound with pronounced anti-cancer properties was isolated by American scientists from cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) known as "mermaid hair". A potential cancer cure has been found on the coast of Fiji in the Pacific Ocean, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science reports.
Scientists from the University of California, San Diego, have studied the properties of cyanobacteria of the species Lyngbya majuscula in experiments on zebra fish and cell cultures. They found that a lipopeptide called somocystinamide A interferes with the formation of blood vessels that feed the tumor, and also blocks the process of division of tumor cells.
According to the head of the study Dwayne Stupack (Dwayne G. Stupack), the antitumor activity of the substance is largely due to the fact that it triggers the process of apoptosis – programmed cell death. Moreover, the therapeutic dose of the substance necessary for the destruction of cancer cells is very small, he noted.
"Somocystinamide A is the first, most promising compound that we have been able to isolate," Stupak said, noting that scientists continue to study the properties of the remaining 250 unique components of cyanobacteria.
Source: UCSD research team identifies novel anticancer drug from the sea – EurekAlert, 02/11/2008