Pharmaceuticals

Reefs and Pharmaceuticals

“The prospect of finding a new drug in the sea, especially among coral reef species, may be 300 to 400 times more likely than isolating one from a terrestrial ecosystem” (Bruckner).

Oceans contain over 80% of the biodiversity on earth. 40-50% of our pharmaceuticals come from natural resources, mostly terrestrial and often found in rainforests (Bruckner). Coral reefs, the rainforests of the ocean, are even more likely to hold the next cure or drug resource.

Reefs Used for Traditional Medicine:

As early as the 14th century Eastern cultures recognized beneficial properties of coral reef ecosystems (Bruckner). One example is the use of seahorse extracts in China, Taiwan, and Japan for sexual disorders, pain, skin problems, kidney and liver diseases, circulatory and respiratory problems (Bruckner).

Diseases Reefs Hold Potential Cures for Today:

Cancer (breast, liver, tumors, leukemia)

Heart disease

Antibacterial resistance- http://earthsky.org/human-world/sea-sponge-could-fight-bacteria

Anti-inflammatory- Pseudopterosins, a class of natural products, come from coral and have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It was found and is now used in skin care products, including products by Estee Lauder (Bruckner).

Arthritis

Asthma

Labor pain

New drugs

Ulcers

Painkiller- Reef-dwelling cone shells are found to produce venom peptides that “offer possibilities for controlling nerves, are valuable as biological probes, and can potentially be used for treating intractable pain, urinary incontinence, stroke, epilepsy, anxiety, and high blood pressure” (Blake 15). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1062150/

Bone graft- A comparative study of the physical and mechanical properties of three natural corals based on the criteria for bone–tissue engineering scaffold. Yu-Chun Wu, Tzer-Min Lee, Kuo-Hsun Chiu, Shyh-Yu Shaw, Chyun-Yu Yang Cosmetics- sunscreen http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/blogs/sunscreen-pills-from-coral-reefs#

Role of Traditional Knowledge in Marine Bioprospecting:

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“In the absence of effective management of coral reefs and the resources they contain, many species that are promising as new sources of biochemical materials for pharmaceuticals and other products may be lost before scientists have the opportunity to evaluate them” (Bruckner). 

The need for conservation of coral reef ecosystems requires immediate action and more than what is now being done. Many seahorse populations, mostly used for traditional medicine in Eastern countries, are being rapidly depleted as demand for seahorse in traditional medicine grows. Seahorse populations declined by 50 percent worldwide between 1990 and 1995 (Bruckner).

Capon, Robert. "Marine Bioprospecting Trawling for Treasure and Pleasure." MicroReview 1434 (2001): 633-645. Print.

Demunshi, Ypsita, and Archana Chugh. "Role of traditional knowledge in marine bioprospecting." Biodiversity Conservancy 19 (2010): 3015-3033. Print.

"Pacifique Sud - PSi." Pacifique Sud - PSi. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.pacifiquesud.com/uk/result.html>.

Wu, Yu-Chun, Tzer-Min Lee, Kuo-Hsun Chiu, Shyh-Yu Shaw, and Chyun-Yu Yang. "A comparative study of the physical and mechanical properties of three natural corals based on the criteria for bone–tissue engineering scaffolds." J Mater Sci: Mater Med 20 (2009): 1273-1280. Print.