A new German study has found that licorice root may contain anti-diabetic properties.
In addition to having anti-inflammatory
properties, substances called amorfrutins from the plant’s root were
found to reduce blood sugar levels in mice.
Furthermore, the study, published online in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week , found
the substance helped prevent the mice from developing a fatty liver and
improved insulin resistance, leading scientists to suggest that licorice
root could be used in the treatment of complex metabolic disorders.
In their study, the amorfrutins worked by
activating various genes that reduced the plasma concentration of
certain fatty acids and glucose, researchers said. The reduced glucose
level, in turn, prevented the development of insulin resistance.
But before you go tucking into a bag of
black licorice candy, scientists point out that the concentration of
amorfrutins is too low to be effective in sweets or tea.
No comments:
Post a Comment