A naturally occurring compound found in a plant long used in traditional Chinese medicine has been found to block the development of metabolic disorders, including diabetes.
New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows that a component in the plant, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, stops the activation of a protein — known as NLRP3 — involved in such disorders. The compound, isoliquiritigenin, combats high-fat, diet-induced obesity, Type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis in experiments involving mice.
The finding could open the door to new treatments, said Kiyoshi Takatsu, a researcher involved in the work from the University of Toyama in Japan.
"We hope that our findings will provide new information and strategy that can be exploited for development of new herbal medication of those diseases," said Takatsu.
John Wherry, deputy editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, noted that obesity and related metabolic disorders are among the most significant emerging medical conditions facing millions worldwide.
“Recent work demonstrates a critical role for obesity-driven inflammation in a multitude of medical problems arising from obesity," he added.
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