HEALTH - ~ NEWS - ~ Seaweed chemical can help treat arthritis, say scientists

Seaweed chemical can help treat arthritis, say scientists

A chemical produced by"nuisance" seaweed which has been destroying
coral reefs in Hawaii could be used to develop drugs to treat
arthritis, scientists say.
Researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in US found
the seaweed is packed with tiny photosynthetic organisms called
"cyanobacterium" which produce compounds that have shown promise in
combating bacterial infections.
It could also be used in future medicines to treat other chronic
diseases fromarthritis to cancer to heart trouble, the researchers
said.
The researchers, who first found the organism in 2008 off the Kona
coast of Hawaii, took samples in 2009 as they were overgrowing and
smothering the corals underneath by releasing a chemical that was
causing the corals to bleach.
Tests on the chemical revealed some surprising results - the seaweed
was generating natural products called honaucins, which had potent
anti-inflammation and bacteria-controlling properties, the Daily Mail
reported.
"In different arenas these compounds could be helpful, such as
treating chronic inflammatory conditions for which we currently don't
have really good medicines. Even nuisance pests, as it turns out, are
not just pests," said Prof William Gerwick, who led the research.
"These organisms have been on the planet for millions of years and so
it is not surprising that they have evolved numerous strategies for
competing with neighboring species, including chemical warfare," added
co-author Jennifer Smith.
"Several species of cyanobacteria and algae are known to produce novel
compounds, many that have promising use in drug development for human
and other uses."
About 350 million people worldwide have arthritis that causes pain and
inflammation within a joint. Currently, there is no cure for it though
painkillers and non-steroidal drugs are often prescribed to help treat
the symptoms.
"It's a long road to go fromthis early-stage discovery to application
in the clinic but it's the only road if we want new and more
efficacious medicines," ProfGerwick said.

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