Research group of the Applied Biochemistry University of Alicante, in collaboration with researchers from General University Hospital Dr. Balmis de Alicante And the Institute of Sanitary and Biomedical Research of Alicante (Isabiel), have identified the anticarcinogenic potential of pigments present in The Salt Pans of Santa Pola.
This character has generated Some microorganisms that live in water saturated or nearly saturated with salt, “halophilic archaea”, to protect themselves from the sun whyTheirs antitumor potential has been tested in a variety of Breastcancersr.
Rosa Maria Martinez, professor of biology and director of thegroup pointt out that this important discovery, which has been Published in the prestigious journal Nature Scientific Reports, began with the development of Micaela Giani’s doctoral thesis. in already performed through the doctor ‘InVitro’ tests the antioxidant activity of the pigment and its effect on enzymes (biocatalysts) involved in pathology Inthe form of diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
“Having made these results known, it was then we thought about what would happen if we mixed pigment into cancer cells Based on the hypothesis, being a pigment with approximately 300 times more antioxidant activity than other antioxidants, it may limit the ability of these cells to grow and reproduce.”, explains the researchers.
“We considered what would happen if we added a pigment to cancer cells based on the hypothesis that, being a pigment with about 300 times more activity than other antioxidants, it might limit the growth of these cells”
In this second phase, the research team worked in collaboration with Dr. Gloria Piro, a Pathologist Professor at the Department of Biotechnology of the General Hospital of Alicante and UA, and Yoel Genaro Montoyo-Pujol, Ph.D. in Experimental and Biosanitary Sciences and also a researcher at UABoth belong to the ISABIAL Breast Cancer and Immunology Research Group.
thank you for this cooperation It was possible to verify ‘in vitro’ the effect of this pigment in cell lines. A row of representative and healthy breast tissue of different intrinsic phenotypes of breast cancer.
And we have concluded that, In certain doses, the pigment has no harmful effect on the healthy cell, but it limits the growth potential of the neoplastic cells.” Martinez explains, who suggests that this discovery “opens a door for biomedicine the design of new strategies to fight cancer based on the use of natural compounds, They are not harmful to the body.
“This discovery opens a door for biomedicine to design new strategies to fight cancer based on the use of natural compounds, which are not harmful to the body”
Halophilic archaea are extremophile microorganisms that require a hypersaline environment to thrive, So that they are mainly found in coastal salt flats, inland salt flats, or hyper-salt lakes. these microbes Synthesis of carotenoid pigments C50 rare called bacterioruberin (BR) and its derivatives monoanhydrobacteriouberina (MABR) and bisanhydrobacteriouberina (BABR).
From this discovery, as the researchers point out, several steps must be developed by starting with extending the study with cell lines other than other types of tumors continuing testing on tissue samples from biopsies or surgical specimens, to design potential treatment protocols using this pigment, and Then move on to animal studies before reaching clinical use in patients.
