• Coral reefs are beautiful and useful.coral reef image by Christian Schoettler from Fotolia.com
  
  Proponents of natural medicines have long believed in the value of nature as a kind of pharmacy. Compounds from animals and plants found in rain forests, on mountains and within marine ecosystems sometimes lead to exciting trials and even produce medicines already in use to help combat human illness.
  
  

Inflammation

• The Nature Conservancy, a charitable environmental organization, points to naturally occurring secosteroids as a marine-derived army able to fight inflammation. This enzyme currently sees active service in the treatment of common inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergies and arthritis. Caribbean Sea Whips, one of hundreds of coral reef species, is a soft coral that contains anti-inflammatory properties used to treat swelling related to illnesses of the skin.
  
  

Clinical Trials

• Horrific diseases such as Huntington’s Chorea and cancers such as kidney, colon and breast cancer may benefit from current trials using coral reef chemicals. Kainic acid, a diagnostic chemical used in Huntington’s research, may fight the disease. Strong bacterial toxins, which provide natural protection against reef predators, may defend more than the reef: researchers aim to use these in the fight against cancer, heart disease and more. These toxins may also be able to kill or hinder cancer cell activity in humans. Science Daily writes that scientists can break down bacterial toxins and reassemble their components into useful compounds to create synthetic medicines. Other potential benefits include fighting bacterial infections and viruses. In the battle against AIDS, clinical trials continue to show a potential role for coral-derived chemicals.
  
  

Coenzyme Q10

• Coenzyme Q10 currently enjoys popularity in the natural remedies market for its antioxidant properties. A co-enzyme works alongside an enzyme, as the name suggests, helping it to perform a specific task. In this case, scientists were excited to discover that while experiencing high degrees of UV exposure, coral not only absorbed these rays but also processed them in ways that created, rather than destroyed, enzymes. Coenzyme Q10, a natural screen found in coral, first emerged as an enticing new form of sunscreen to protect human skin from the effects of sun exposure. Radiation caused by sun exposure releases free radicals that attack living cells; coenzyme Q10 helps prevent this. More significant, perhaps, is this co-enzyme’s potential use as a warrior in the fight against Alzheimer's and other age-related diseases. Since the body ceases to produce enough of certain antioxidants and cellular helpers such as co-enzymes with increased age, outside help could slow down the aging process.