A better medication for diabetes

15 February 2008

Researchers at Monash University have begun an early study into a new medicine to manage diabetes using a chemical compound from licorice, which has been used for over 4000 years for purposes ranging from sweetening food to treating respiratory problems.

The compound, glycyrrhizic acid, has been found to have the effect of reducing blood sugar, said Monash University lecturer Dr Ton So Ha.

Dr Ton is working with Professor Dato' Dr Khalid Kadir, head of Monash University's Clinical School in Johor Baru and one of Malaysia's leading experts in the study of diabetes, to research the effects of this compound in managing diabetes.

The research project is one of several at Monash University that won funding from the Malaysian government through the e-Science funding scheme.

Dr Ton said the current medicines used to treat diabetes act via different mechanisms and each have a limit on efficacy and its own side effects. A new drug that works via inhibiting the action of steroid hormones at the abdominal fat tissue and thus reducing insulin resistance with no, or lesser, side effects would be beneficial to patients.

"Licorice has been used in the past to treat a number of ailments and among its compounds, glycyrrhizic acid offers much potential for development into an alternative medicine to treat Type 2 diabetes," said Dr Ton.

She said the research is currently focusing on three major areas - the level of dosage and the period of administration required for the compound to take best effect, the best route for delivery and the side effects.

Upon completion of the study, Dr Ton said the team will then focus on developing and testing a compound that is similar to glycyrrhizic acid in its chemical structure, but different enough to prevent side effects found to be caused by glycyrrhizic acid.

"Previous research has suggested that this compound could have the side effect like hypertension and cardiovascular complications. These side effects are being examined as part of the research.

“Upon completing this area of research, we will work on structural modification of the compound's chemistry to prevent the side effects," said Dr Ton.

While the results of this research are still far away, Dr Ton said initial outcomes have been promising. - By Jasbir Singh