Pumpkin extract may put an end to insulin injections
Dated: 17 July 2007
Compounds found in pumpkin could replace or reduce the daily insulin injections that many diabetics currently have to endure, according to a study published in Chemisty & Industry magazine.
Recent research revealed that pumpkin extract promotes the regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic rats, boosting levels of insulin-producing beta cells and insulin in the blood.
The group, led by Tao Xia of the East China Normal University, found that diabetic rats fed the extract had only 5 percent less plasma insulin and 8 percent fewer insulin-positive (beta) cells compared to normal healthy rats. The rats used in this study represent type I diabetes, but the researchers believe the pumpkin extract may also play a role in type II diabetes.
“I think the exciting thing is that this may be a source of a medication that could be taken by mouth,” said David Bender, sub-dean at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, London.
Diabetes affects more than 230 million people, almost 6 percent of the world's adult population, according to the World Diabetes Foundation.
(18 August 2008) Purveyor of antibiotic and hormone free meats and cheeses Applegate Farms has launched the Applegate Farms Yogurt Cheese with probiotics in the US. The new pre-sliced cheese is a m...
(8 August 2008) New research in the latest issue of the Society of Chemical Industry’s (SCI) Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture shows there is no evidence to support the argument that ...
(1 August 2008) Scientific evidence shows that cholesterol-reducing medications known as statins can help prevent coronary artery disease. Although the safety of these medications has been well d...
(1 August 2008) Agilent Technologies has introduced a catalog microarray for the study of chromosomal additions and deletions in chickens. The Agilent Oligonucleotide Array CGH (comparative genom...
(10 July 2008) China-Biotics, Inc. says Shuguang Fang, Chief Technology Officer of the probiotics company, will be a guest speaker at China's 3rd Annual Food Safety Technology Forum 2008. Organiz...
(1 June 2008) Besides its cholesterol lowering properties and rich vitamin content, sea buckthorn berries can add another feather to its cap as a miracle plant of sorts. Scientists in India, whe...
(22 May 2008) A leading UK chemical engineer has revealed the unlikely ingredient needed to make the perfect sandwich – bubbles. Speaking at an Institution of Chemical Engineers’ (IChemE) lectur...
(14 May 2008) They have added yet another invention to an already long list of oleochemical accomplishments that includes petroleum-free newspaper ink, industrial lubricants, hydraulic fluids, a...
Germany's METRO Group is making plans to open its first Metro Cash & Carry wholesale store in Kazakhstan in the summer of 2009. The Group officially agreed to the investment with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Wednesday, a move which will extend METRO's activities to 33 countries.
Trent Ltd, the retail arm of the Tata group in India, is likely to invest around Rs 20billion ( €0.3 billion ) over the next five years in the roll out of 50 Star Bazaar hypermarket stores, according to Indian press reports.
The recent credit crunch has led all the major supermarket chains in the UK to increase promotions of cheap, unhealthy food, according to the country's National Consuner Council (NCC).
Auchan has published half year results for the first time as a result of new European regulations governing transparency. Although there has been a slow-down in mature markets, emerging markets remained buoyant for the French company and as a result sales for the first six months of 2008 were 9.4% higher than in 2007 reaching EUR18.7 billion.
Price promotions and the decision to only partially pass on food price inflation to customers have led to a downturn in second quarter margins for Ahold. Net sales for second quarter 2008 were EUR 5.8 billion, down 0.8% from the same period last year. At constant exchange rates, net sales increased by 7.3%.
Despite the credit crunch, drinks giant, Diageo reports another year of strong organic growth with net sales up 7% and operating profit up 9%. Sales rose to £8.09bn up from £7.48bn last year while sales volumes increased by about 3%.
