Date:05/05/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/05/05/stories/2009050554060400.htm

Kerala - Pathanamthitta

Sweet news for diabetic patients

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

A group of students at Mannam Memorial NSS College, Konni, claims to have prepared a tuber extract having anti-diabetic powers.

Tasting success: Bio-Tigers at work in the laboratory.

PATHANAMTHITTA: ‘Bio-Tigers,’ a seven-member group of bio-technology students at Mannam Memorial NSS College at Konni, has come out with a ‘panacea’ for diabetes which is regarded as a ‘silent killer.’

The students claimed to have prepared a tuber extract with anti-diabetic properties after a rigorous research of two-and-a-half years. The medicinal quality of the extract has been proved through a series of tests at the college laboratory, they say. However, they prefer not to reveal the plant’s name till they get a patent for the extraction process.

They had collected the tuber plant from shrubberies with the help of a mendicant and it was identified by a renowned taxonomist. The tuber was separated from the plant, dried under shade, powdered and was extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform and distilled water by solvent extraction method.

Experiment on rats

Wistar rats (male) weighing 150 gm-200 gmwere selected for the experiment. All animal procedures were performed according to good laboratory practice and the rats were fed with standard pellet diet. After being put on fasting for 16 hours, they were made diabetic by administering an injection. Within 24 hours, their blood glucose level increased and the ones with blood glucose level above 250 mg/dl were selected for the study. The rats were divided into six groups. After the experimental schedule, they were subjected to histopathological examinations and it is found that their pancreas showed complete regeneration within the course. The extract has shown significant anti-diabetic quality as compared to the standard drug, Tolbutamide.

The ‘Bio-Tigers’ are Anfal Mohammed, Aswin Sasi, Sameer K.S., Sarath S. Nair, Shyam Krishna S, Vishnu V. Kumar and Vaishakh P.R. College Principal Konni Gopakumar and faculty members Smitha G. Kurup, Sindhu C. Pillai and Deepa V. Nair assisted the students.