British scientists are close to developing the world’s first natural sunscreen based on amino acids produced by coral.
King's College London researchers are working with skincare company Aethic to develop the sunscreen, derived from “MAAs” (mycosporine-like amino acids), produced by coral.
"While MAAs have a number of other potential applications, human sunscreen is certainly a good place to begin proving the compound's features,” said Dr. Paul Long, with King's Institute of Pharmaceutical Science. “We hope that we will be able to develop a sunscreen with the broadest spectrum of protection."
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Last year, a team led by Long discovered how naturally occurring MAAs are produced. The team determined algae living within coral make a compound that is modified into a sunscreen for the benefit of both the coral and the algae. Not only does it protect them both from UV damage, but fish that feed on the coral also benefit from this sunscreen protection, Long explained.
Researchers are now testing the efficacy of the compounds using human skin models.