Tasty and therapeutic

UF researchers say sea lettuce may help prevent prostate cancer

A new defense against prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men in the united states, may come from a seaweed found off the coast of Florida. UF pharmacy researchers have screened various seaweeds with cancer-preventive potential and identified one that shows particular promise. They isolated specific compounds in this common green alga, known as sea lettuce, and undertook studies to understand exactly how they work. their findings, published Sept. 4 in cancer Prevention research, show how the species may protect multiple organs from disease and may be particularly effective in preventing prostate cancer. Sea lettuce is commonly consumed in Asian countries where the risk of prostate cancer is low, but there have been no rigorous studies to verify the correlation, said Hendrik Luesch, Ph.D., an associate professor of medicinal chemistry in the UF college of Pharmacy, a part of UF health. Luesch’s marine natural products laboratory offers the first investigation of this seaweed’s cellular functions, revealing specific mechanisms that contribute to its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties and identifying its active chemical ingredients. “We now have scientific evidence that this seaweed raises the body’s antioxidant defense system and therefore might potentially prevent a number of diseases, including cancer,” Luesch said. “this mechanism appears to be most relevant to prostate cancer.” scientists have long believed that seaweeds, a staple of Asian diets, may lower cancer risk in Western populations. When Luesch investigated at the molecular level, he identified key factors that support the hypothesis, including which seaweeds might provide the most protection. — Linda Homewood