Seaweed oil has long been used to treat wounds and we are sure you have at least one at home and it is one of the hand-me-downs when you go to Langkawi. Researchers from the University of Mississippi have now found that a compound produced by seaweed can prevent the spread of cancer.
Cancer spreads to other parts of the body through the process of metastasis caused by the enzyme Sulf-2. Human cells are covered in small hair-like structures called glycans that help with cell communication, immune response and recognition of threats such as pathogens. Cancer cells alter certain enzymes in the body, including Sulf-2, which in turn alters the structure of glycans. This modification helps cancer spread.
But the sugar compound fucosylated chondroitin sulfate produced by seaweed from the species Holothuria floridana can block Sulf-2 in tests conducted in the laboratory. When Sulf-2 is blocked, cancer metastasis can be prevented from occurring.
Another advantage of this compound produced by seaweed is that it is safe to use and easier to produce than synthetic processes. The obstacle at this time is obtaining fucosylated chondroitin sulfate in large quantities to conduct clinical trials on laboratory animals before it can be developed for humans.
Who would have thought that sea cucumber, which was once considered just a traditional medicine for treating wounds and skin diseases, actually holds the secret to preventing the spread of cancer, which is the third highest cause of death in Malaysia in 2022.