Treat insulin diabetes from lettuce

Quang Thinh

US scientists have created insulin from lettuce to treat diabetes. After successful mouse tests, this type of insulin is being tested on humans, opening up the opportunity for treatment for type 1 diabetics.

Using genetically modified technology, the team created insulin-containing plant cells from lettuce and tobacco to test for diabetic mice. This study was conducted by Professor Henry Daniell, of Central Florida University, and colleagues.

The team put the lyophilized plant cells of tobacco or lettuce containing insulin in the form of powder into diabetic mice. When these cells enter the mouse intestine, the bacteria that live there decompose the cell walls and the insulin that is released will be gradually introduced into the bloodstream.

Professor Henry Daniell hopes lettuce produced from lettuce will treat millions of people with type 1 diabetes (Photo: Science Daily)

After 8 weeks of testing, experts found that blood glucose levels and rat urine returned to safe levels, and beta cells in the rat's pancreas produced the necessary insulin levels for body. However, in order to save costs and avoid adverse reactions that may arise from tobacco, the team currently only uses insulin from genetically modified lettuce in the trials.

According to the research team, this insulin is also able to help prevent pancreatitis in mice at risk for diabetes. After obtaining encouraging results in mice, Professor Daniell said his team is testing this type of insulin in humans.

To be able to carefully control the dosage, experts gave patients insulin in the form of powder contained in capsules.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks, destroys insulin and beta cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin - essential for sugar and fine metabolism. powder and other foods into energy to supply the body.

Currently, according to Professor Daniell: 'Therapy for type 1 diabetics is temporary. They must regularly monitor blood and urine sugar levels. They have to inject insulin several times a day. Therefore, if there is a long-term treatment for patients, it is a very practical thing. '

If human trials do well, this study will open up opportunities to treat millions of patients around the world and help save significant costs in the fight against diabetes - a disease that can lead to the risk of heart attack, kidney failure, stroke and blindness.

In a report published in Plant Biotechnology, the team thinks that insulin production in plants is an inexpensive and effective alternative to targeted insulin production methods. standard

Professor Daniell said: 'This research can make a big and significant change, because there are currently no drugs to treat type 1 diabetics.

Currently, patients with type 1 diabetes must have insulin injections several times a day.Therefore, long-term therapy is needed for patients.(Photo: diakine.com)