Alacloid From Sea Sponges May Offer Relief From Arthritis Pain

An alcaloid found in sea sponges, Manzamine A, could someday offer relief from arthritis pain, according to a professor at Midwestern University and a team of Florida co-inventors, who recently obtained a patent for that use from the U.S. Patent office.

"We have shown that Manzamine A is a potent anti-inflammatory agent in our laboratory," said Dr. Alejandro M. S. Mayer, Ph.D., professor of Pharmacology at the University, "and are hopeful that it will someday become a novel clinical agent used to treat the many millions who are affected by rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis."

The patent was secured after five years of research, making Manzamine A the third naturally-derived marine product on the list of U.S. drugs.

Other sources: Midwestern University