Have you ever thought what is the story behind strange-tasting-tonic, queer remedies and ‘curious’ cures? If not, we have some wild facts to take you on a sky-high ride.
Rooster combs could help someone walk again: Hyaluronan acid, which is derived from these combs, has been used as a treatment for arthritis, via injection into the knees.
This process is called Viscosupplementation, and has gained recent popularity for use in patients not responding to other treatments for osteoarthritis of the knees.
The recent studies have shown that the very compounds that make venom, can be useful in the treatment of several human disorders and diseases.
There are two main types of venom – hemotoxins and neurotoxins. Medicines derived from hemotoxins are used to treat heart attacks and blood disorders. Medicines derived from neurotoxins are used to treat brain injuries, strokes, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Who would’ve thought that a lizard’s spit could control type-2 diabetes?
Scientists have created a drug called Exenatide(Byetta), which contains a natural compound called exendin-4 that is found in the saliva of the scaly Gila lizard. This natural substance is used to treat type-2 diabetes and also helps to reduce cravings for chocolate and other foods.
UK scientists have developed genetically modified chickens capable of laying eggs containing proteins required to make cancer-fighting drugs.
Helen Sang, of the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh – where Dolly the sheep was cloned in 1997 – genetically modified hens to lay eggs that contain complex medicinal proteins in the white part.
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Published: 31 May 2017,07:04 PM IST