Gas responsible for stink in farts and rotten eggs may be the healthcare hero the world is waiting for. University of Exeter scientists are looking at hydrogen sulfide for a cure to cancer and stroke.

A study published in the Medical Chemistry Communications journal is saying Exeter scientists designed and created a new compound that could be crucial to therapies in the future. The compound, AP39, works by protecting the mitochondria, the cell's powerhouse.

Administered in small amounts to affected cells, AP39 boosts the capabilities of the mitochondria to ensure that a cell will have a continuous source of energy which is necessary in maintaining cell function. When a cell is able to function as it should, it is better prepared to fight off diseases to speed up recovery or prevent damage from taking hold in the first place. Mitochondrial care is an important component in treating a number of conditions, and the study operates on this premise.

"When cells become stressed by disease, they draw in enzymes to generate minute quantities of hydrogen sulfide. This keeps the mitochondria ticking over and allows cells to live. If this doesn't happen, the cells die and lose the ability to regulate survival and control inflammation," explained Professor Matt Whiteman from the University of Exeter Medical School.

AP39 exploits this process that naturally occurs in the body but it must be delivered in small amounts and directly to the mitochondrial area to be effective. Hydrogen sulfide has been categorized as a dangerous gas so simply inhaling it to get a dose can be fatal.

Continued research is being done to determine the effects of AP39 on different diseases, but preliminary results are optimistic. In the case of cardiovascular diseases, for example, the study has shown that over 80 percent of mitochondria survive devastating conditions when the compound is administered. Alongside Professor Whiteman, Dr. Mark Wood from Biosciences at Exeter is working to take the study to the next level and test on humans.

A follow-up study in collaboration with the University of Texas Medical Branch was published in The Nitric Oxide Journal. Said study showed that AP39 also selectively protected mitochondrial DNA. This DNA cannot be repaired once it is damaged, leaving affected individuals even more vulnerable to symptoms of their disease.

At the 3rd International Conference on Hydrogen Sulfide in Biology and Medicine, small-scale studies also pointed to the compound's ability to reverse stiffening in blood vessels and lower blood pressure as well as slow the heartbeat to improve chances of heart attack survival.