SCI Rep: conch compounds reduce cancer risk

September 25, 2019 / BIOON / - a small conch in Australia can secrete a colorful purple compound to protect its eggs This extraordinary ability has been proved more extraordinary due to its potential in a new anti-cancer drug Researchers from Flinders University, South Cross University and Monash University in Australia isolated a compound from the gland secretion of the white stone conch in Australia The compound has not only antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, but also important anti-cancer properties Photo source: Professor Catherine Abbott, senior chief scientist of Flinders University, said: "after 10 years of research, we have found an active compound extracted from the substance produced by the gland of mollusks, which can be used to prevent colorectal cancer We are very excited about these latest results and hope to attract the investment of a pharmaceutical company to study a new drug to reduce the development of colorectal cancer "With the latest mass spectrometry technology, the research team has been able to accurately find the leading active compounds, which can be put into use in the future Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in 9.6 million people a year, with the World Health Organization reporting 862000 deaths in 2018 Professor Kirsten benkendorff, a marine scientist at Southern Cross University, said that natural compounds from marine and terrestrial animals and plants are a valuable source of current and future human health drugs Professor benkendorff said: "in this latest study, we not only proved that a special compound can prevent the formation of tumor in colon cancer model, but also we can use advanced technology to track the metabolism of this compound in the body This is very important for drug development because it helps to prove that the drug has no potential toxic side effects The compounds come from a group of compounds called indoles, which are commonly found in natural plant drugs and some drugs Professor benkendorff added: "we can use the fact that conch compounds contain bromine, like a unique fingerprint, to track how these compounds are metabolized in the body, and identify some potential toxic metabolites from natural extracts, which are not found in pure conch compounds "This study is important to understand the safety of these natural compounds used in human medicine "Reference: David Andre Rudd et al, mapping interior interior parameters in the gastroenteric environment of a murine chromatic cancer model using design / ionization on crowd silicon imaging, scientific reports (2019) Doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48533-2