Did You Know?
By D.P. Agrawal

dpagrawal@sancharnet.in

Q. Did you know that leaves of dhaincha break down insulin resistance?

A. Scientists at Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) have found leaves of dhain­cha (Sesbania bispinosa), a plant grown for fodder and as a green manure, is a good source of pinitol, an anti-diabetic compound.

In a paper published in Current Science (Vol 87, No 11), scientists L.N. Misra and S.A. Siddiqui reported they could extract pinitol from sun-dried leaves of dhaincha. CIMAP has patented the process. Says Misra, being a fast growing plant even in poor soil and with huge herbage, dhain­cha should be a promising crop for pinitol.

Source

Down to Earth , Feb 15, 2005

Link:www.downtoearth.org.in

Posted August 30th 2005

Back to "Did You Know?" Archive