Seaweed chemical can help treat arthritis

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 from arthritis 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.

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 from this early-stage discovery to 

application in the clinic but it’s the only road if we want new 

and more efficacious medicines.