Researchers at University of Florida College of Pharmacy have discovered a compound from the sea coast of Key Largo that inhibits growth of cancer cells in laboratory tests.The research can help in producing more effective drug for the disease .
The compound named is largazole which is derived from cyanobacteria which grows on coral reefs .The researchers produced their study at International natural products scientific meeting in Athens, Greece.The chemical structure of molecule of compound and it’s ability to inhibit cancer were reported in February in Journal of the American Chemical Society and the laboratory synthesis and description of it’s working as an anti-cancer is described on july 2.
Dr .Hendrik Luesch, Ph.D., an assistant professor in UF’s department of medicinal chemistry and the study principal investigator said that it will be exciting when a natural chemical will overcome all the chemical drugs to treat cancer .“Largazole” the name is given due to it’s structural features and Florida location .The scientists were checking the depth of seas from about 1960s but many of them loose interest because it is a very expensive and time consuming process .
Their are many common medications such as cholesterol-reducing statins and pain relivers which are produced from the products found on earth but “Largazole” is first anti cancer medical product which is approved since today .Their are almost 14 marine compounds which are under research .We know that their is a bank of medicines to be discovered under the depth of seas said “Luesch ”.