October 28, 2008

Sponge produces cancer fighting substance

Scientists have found that a sponge found off the coast of Florida have a substance which has been found to have qualities which could fight against colon and pancreatic cells, in fact this substance could destroy around fifty per cent of the cells.

However the substance only appears in small amounts in the natural sponge therefore the science team at Burnham Institute for Medical Research in Orlando are working on producing a man maid version on the substance in order for it become available in viable amounts.

In its natural state the sponge lives in deep water off the Florida coast about three thousand feet deep, so the team need to use submersibles in order to get hold of samples.

Obviously, there is a long way to go before this can be used as a treatment on humans, but the prospects are there for future use.

Source [Physorg]