Artificial blood from sugar beet

Hemoglobin in sugar beet can be used to create an artificial blood.

>>>Artificial blood will be tested in humans in 2016

Hemoglobin in sugar beet can be used to create an artificial blood substitute.(Photo: Nélida Leiva / Lund University)

Hemoglobin , which is abundant in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. Vulgaris), can be used to create an artificial blood substitute. " Hemoglobin in sugar beet is similar to human hemoglobin , especially the patterns found in the brain," Sci-news quoted Dr. Nélida Leiva-Eriksson from Lund University, Sweden.

Leiva-Eriksson and colleagues found hemoglobin in the roots, leaves and flowers of plants. Previously, scientists believed that sugar beets only produced hemoglobin under severe weather conditions such as drought or frost. However, according to new research, hemoglobin is produced even when the plant is in a normal state.

Plant hemoglobin has a completely different function, though similar to human hemoglobin. They are not used to transport oxygen like in human blood, but bind nitric oxide to nitric oxide to not become toxic, and help prevent bacteria.

The process of extracting hemoglobin from sugar beet is not too complicated compared to extracting sugar. From one hectare, the team can produce 1-2 tons of hemoglobin.

Scientists prepare a hemoglobin test from sugar beets on animals.