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.
University of Florida 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.