Effect of Dead-Sea brine and its main salts on cell growth in culture.

Authors: Shani J (1) , Sharon R (1) , Koren R (1) , Even-Paz Z (2)

Affiliations:

(1) Dept. of Pharmacology, The Hebrew University School of Pharmacy (2) Dept. of Dermatology, Hadassah-University Hospital

Source: Pharmacology. 1987;35(6):339-47.

Language: English Countries: Not specified Location: Not specified Correspondence address: Jashovam Shani, Department of Pharmacology, Hebrew University School of Pharmacy, POBox 12065, Jerusalem 91120 (Israel)

Keywords

Article abstract

Diluted Dead-Sea brine and solutions of certain of its salts (chlorides and bromides of Na, K and Mg) were found to reversibly inhibit cell proliferation in culture. Bromides were more powerful as inhibitors than their chloride counterparts, and K salts were more effective than those of Na and Mg. KBr had the strongest inhibitory effect, which equalled that of diluted Dead-Sea brine at the same concentration. The favourable results of the Dead-Sea Spa treatment of psoriasis may thus be partly due to the penetration of minerals into the body, via the skin, with subsequent reinforcement of anti-proliferative mechanisms.

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