Mt. Mayon’s soil has potential anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties

Mt. Mayon might have been known for its eruptions in the past, but that could change given the recent findings. Researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) identified bacteria from the volcano’s soil that potentially has antibiotic and anti-colorectal cancer properties.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) posted a press release regarding the discovery on their website and Facebook page.

‘We have high hopes of getting new and novel species because this is a less explored environment, a volcano,’ said Kristel Mae P. Oliveros, the project leader and an assistant professor in UPLB Microbiology Division. ‘We were totally surprised and excited.’

The Streptomyces sp. A1-08 is the bacterial species that could possibly have antibiotic activity and anti-colorectal cancer effects, says DOST’s release. Albert Remus R. Rosana confirmed that it would be named “Streptomyces mayonensis A1-08” in honor of the country. He is a coworker of Oliveros, who is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta, Canada.

The research team initially tested 30 bacteria, but only 13 showed varying antibiotic activities against several test organisms that cause disease in humans and plants. The announcement stated, ‘But Streptomyces sp. A1-08 stood out because it has shown antagonistic effects on all test microorganisms and the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or simply MRSA.’

‘Abundant in hospitals, MRSA is strongly resistant against antibiotics which makes treatment of infections more difficult,’ it added. ‘In fact, the WHO has declared antimicrobial resistance as one of the top 10 global threats to public health.’

Oliveros was prompted to analyze further if Streptomyces sp. A1-08 will show anti-colectoral cancer activity since it has resistance to MRSA. The results presented low potency when compared to doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug. It also states that those raw compounds can be refined to develop an exact anticancer drug.

While Oliveros labels their findings as a “jackpot,” she stressed that their discovery needs to undergo more research. She added, ‘Way forward, further studies should be made for us to establish that this novel species can likewise produce novel bioactive compounds.’

According to DOST, this paper was recently accepted in the Philippine Journal of Science (PJS), a peer-reviewed publication of the department. Its full copy will be available on the journal’s website (philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph) soon.

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Source: we the pvblic