Mauritius sea sponge produces chemicals that can kill liver cancer cells – findings are a positive first step

By Rima Beesoo, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research

For thousands of years, medicines have been developed from natural sources – mostly from plants. In recent decades, though, drug hunters have been looking at the immense diversity of marine organisms as potential sources of new medicines.

Marine sponges have garnered particular attention. They are considered champion producers of molecules (known as “natural products”). They produce these because they use toxic compounds to deter predators, communicate with their neighbours, or prevent algae and bacteria from growing…

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