Fed: Indian tree holds promise of weekly tablet for diabetics
The wood of an Indian tree that may be the source of a once-weekly tablet for the treatmentof diabetes will be the subject of an upcoming study in Sydney.
University of New England physiologist JIM MCFARLANE says the tree's been used for thousandsof years to treat type II diabetes mellitus in Asia.
The traditional medicine -- known as VIJAYASAR -- is already available legally in Australiafrom some naturopaths, but it's difficult to get.
Dr MCFARLANE says VIJAYASAR has several advantages over drugs currently used in thewest to boost insulin production by the pancreas.
He says an animal trial has shown it acts within 24 hours and that one dose is effectivefor seven days.
By contrast, the standard drugs used in Australia take up to two weeks to produce anoticeable effect, and patients have to repeat the dose every eight hours.
AAP RTV mk/smb/rt
KEYWORD: DIABETES (SYDNEY)
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