In animal study, scientists have demonstrated that brown algae polyphenols (BAP) from a type of brown marine seaweed may be used orally and topically for the treatment and prevention of skin cancer due to UVB.

"Both the oral and topical BAP treatment reduced COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 cell proliferation levels in the skin," Stoner says, "which corresponds with fewer tumors and small tumors in the treated animals."

In addition, animals fed with BAP had lower incidences of skin tumors after exposure to UVB. The study has been published in the Dec. 15 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

[Photo: melanoma, Source: NCI]