Researchers hope to develop a tablet which can protect our skin and eyes without the need for dark glasses or sun cream. [Agencies]

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A pill that prevents sunburn could be on the shelves within five years after British scientists discovered how coral shields itself against harmful UV rays, Daily Telegraph reported.

Coral converts compounds produced by algae living inside it to make a sunscreen which protects both the coral and the algae from sunburn, the researchers discovered.

Fish which feed on the coral also gain protection from the sun, but the human digestive system wipes out the compounds before they can offer us any benefit.

Dr Paul Long from King's College London, who is leading the research, hopes to engineer the compounds in the lab so that they survive long enough in our bodies to enter the bloodstream and offer us some level of protection.

He said, "We are very close to being able to reproduce this compound in the lab, and if all goes well we would expect to test it within the next two years."

（点击《每日电讯报》查看原文）

防晒药物五年内面世

       继英国科学家发现珊瑚虫是如何抵御有害的紫外线后，一种防晒药物有望五年内上市。

       据英国《每日电讯报》报道，研究人员发现，珊瑚虫会把生活在其中的藻类产生的化合物转化成“防晒霜”，从而使自己和海藻都免于晒伤。

       以这种珊瑚虫为食的鱼类也会获得防晒保护，但人类的消化系统在这种化合物发挥功用之前就把它排出了。

       伦敦国王学院的保罗朗博士是该研究的带头人，他希望实验能使这种化合物在人体内停留足够长的时间，并最终进入血液，为人类提供一定的防晒保护。

       他说：“我们现在已经快能在实验室里制造这种化合物了。如果一切顺利，未来两年内将进行试验。”

(China.org.cn September 5, 2011)