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Frogs Offer Hope to Diabetics

'Shrinking' amphibian's skin holds key to new treatment alternatives

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Mar 3, 2008 1:15 PM CST
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(Newser) – A frog that lives in the Amazon secretes a substance that stimulates insulin release in humans, offering new hope to diabetics, the BBC reports. The South American shrinking frog, which grows smaller as it ages, produces pseudin-2 through its slimy skin. A synthetic version of the peptide worked even better than the real thing in lab tests conducted by scientists in Northern Ireland and the UAE.

Pseudin-2 shields the shrinking frog, Pseudis paradoxa, from infection; in humans, it stimulates insulin production in the pancreas without negative side effects. "More research is needed, but there is a growing body of work around natural anti-diabetic drug discovery that is already yielding fascinating results," a researcher told the London Times.

Amphibian skin secretions are a frequent focus for human medical research, including the development of a recently developed diabetes drug, exenatide, developed from a hormone in the saliva of the Gila monster, pictured here.
Amphibian skin secretions are a frequent focus for human medical research, including the development of a recently developed diabetes drug, exenatide, developed from a hormone in the saliva of the Gila...   (Shutterstock.com)
A variety of traditional diabetes treatments are seen in this undated file photo. More research is needed, but there is a growing body of work around natural anti-diabetic drug discovery that, as you can see, is already yielding fascinating results, said one researcher.
A variety of traditional diabetes treatments are seen in this undated file photo. "More research is needed, but there is a growing body of work around natural anti-diabetic drug discovery that, as you...   (Shutterstock.com)
This artists rendering shows Pseudis paradoxa, The Shrinking frog. A compound isolated from the frog's skin secretions might facilitate the production of insulin in humans.
This artists rendering shows Pseudis paradoxa, The "Shrinking" frog. A compound isolated from the frog's skin secretions might facilitate the production of insulin in humans.   (Public Domain)
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Black tea also anti-diabetic
BBC

Diabetic drug controversy reaches Supreme Court
Associated Press

More on the research and possible application
Belfast Telegraph

 
obesity • diabetes • frogs • insulin • type 2 diabetes • tadpole • Universtiy of Ulster • United Arab Emirates University • pseudin-2 • blood glucose

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