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Late last year we covered a breakthrough by University of California at San Diego researchers that found how algae could be used to cost-effectively produce anti-cancer drugs. Today algae have proven they are also useful in treating pulmonary disease.
Today’s announcement by pharmacy researchers at the University of Florida details the discovery that a compound found in marine algae, symplostatin 5, targets an enzyme that plays a role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cystic fibrosis and other diseases.
It’s an impressive addition to the list of health problems algae can tackle, and it appears that these same researchers at the University of Florida will be back with more. They collected algae from all over the world and a range of marine compounds that could be useful in treating colorectal, prostate and metastatic breast cancer, enhance bone regeneration and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more at the UF Academic Health Center’s website.
