Shark Liver Compound could Treat Dengue, Hepatitis
Wednesday, 21 September 2011, 17:39 IST
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London: A shark liver compound could be used to treat dengue, yellow fever and hepatitis, say experts. Michael Zasloff, from Georgetown University, US, who led the study, said: "To realise that squalamine potentially has broad antiviral properties is immensely exciting." Researchers found in both lab and animal experiments that squalamine triggered antiviral activity against human pathogens found in some forms of hepatitis, which are not treatable. This discovery might explain how and why sharks with primitive immune systems can stave off viruses that plague all living creatures, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday. Zasloff said: "Squalamine appears to protect against viruses that attack the liver and blood tissues, and other similar compounds that we know exist in the shark likely protect against respiratory viral infections, and so on." "We may be able to harness the shark's novel immune system to turn all of these antiviral compounds into agents that protect humans against a wide variety of viruses." "That would be revolutionary. While many antibacterial agents exist, doctors have few antiviral drugs to help their patients, and few of those are broadly active." Zasloff discovered squalamine in 1993 and it has already been used in clinical trials to treat cancer and several eye disorders.
Source: IANS
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