An international team of researchers has found a potential use for natural compounds derived from Fijan water animals, in the development of anti-cancer therapies and improvement of drug delivery.

Scientists from Aberdeen, Luxembourg and the South Pacific investigated compounds from marine species which interfere with a protein known to play an integral role in the development of cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and asthma.

Presenting the team's findings at the Society for Experimental Biology's Annual Meeting in Marseille today, professor Marcel Jaspars from the University of Aberdeen, said: "A few animals, including sponges, soft corals and sea lilies, were examined further, and from these we have been able to isolate and characterize the compounds responsible.

"We have shown that one of these molecules is able to allow normal cell death to start up again, a property which we will be going onto study in much more detail."

At present drug delivery presents a significant problem to the medical world, however, according to the research, a compound from a Mediterranean sponge may serve as a solution.

Professor Jaspars explained: "This molecule can reversibly create pores in cell membranes, a property for we envisage vast possibilities in the transportation of medicinal drugs."