Sea cucumber oil (Minyak Gamat) has long been used to heal wounds, and it’s one of Malaysians' household mainstays. Recently, researchers from the University of Mississippi have found that compounds produced by sea cucumber can prevent the spread of cancer.

How does Cancer happens?

For your information, cancer spreads to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis, which is caused by the enzyme Sulf-2.

The human cells are covered in tiny hair-like structures called glycans that help with cell communication, immune responses and the recognition of threats such as pathogens.

As a result, Cancer cells alter certain enzymes in the body, including Sulf-2, which in turn alter the structure of the glycans. These modifications help the cancer spread.

How does Minyak Gamat stop it?

However, the sugar compound Fucosylated Chondroitin sulfate produced by sea cucumbers from the species Holothuria Floridana can inhibit Sulf-2 in laboratory tests. When Sulf-2 is inhibited, cancer metastasis can be prevented from occurring.

Another advantage of the compound produced by sea cucumber is that it is safe to use and easier to produce than synthetic processes.

The current obstacle lies in obtaining Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfate in large quantities to conduct clinical trials on laboratory animals before being developed for humans.

Who would have thought that Minyak Gamat, which was once considered just a traditional medicine for treating wounds and skin diseases, actually holds the secret to preventing the spread of cancer, the third highest cause of death in Malaysia in 2022.

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