A centuries-old Bedouin treatment for diabetes has been proved by scientists of the Haifa Technion Medical School to lower glucose levels in tests on animals. The results of the research have been discussed at the annual scientific meeting of the Israel Diabetes Association at the Technion.
The ancient Bedouin cure used the roots of the “sira kotzanit”, poterium spinosum plant found on the hills of northern Israel and in Syria and Armenia. “The Bedouin mix the roots with tea and administer the potion to diabetics,” it was explained by Dr. Yorem Kanter, a medical school lecturer and head of the diabetes unit at the Rambam Hospital.
He said researchers at the Technion’s faculty of chemistry have isolated the active ingredient of the thorny plant, which is mentioned in the Talmud, and subsequent tests on animals have proved it lowers blood-glucose levels. Experiments will be carried out with human volunteers. Further research will aim to identify the chemical structure of the active agent to see if it can be synthesized, said Kanter.
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