Research could lead to a new generation of anti-diabetic drugs
As part of its commitment to supporting innovation and scientific research, the University of the United Arab Emirates funded a collaborative research project to study the anti-diabetic properties of camel milk. Camel milk is a popular commodity in the UAE and in many parts of the world. It is known for its therapeutic properties against diseases such as diabetes and cancer. It is also well known that camel milk reduces the dose of insulin needed to induce blood sugar control and improves fasting blood sugar. The anti-diabetic properties of camel milk have been studied by many researchers around the world. However, the molecular basis of these properties and the exact active ingredient are not yet known. Therefore, a study entitled “Molecular basis of the antidiabetic properties of camel milk by profiling its bioactive peptides on DPP-IV and insulin receptor activity” by Dr. Mohammed Ayoub’s laboratory from the Department of Biology, College of Science of the UAEU and conducted The laboratory of Dr. Sajid Maqsood from the Department of Food Science of the College of Food and Agriculture of the UAEU with support from the Zayed Center for Health Sciences of the UAEU.
Dr. Sajid Maqsood and Dr. Mohammed Ayoub
The study aimed to identify the bioactive antidiabetic agents made from camel milk protein fractions and understand their mode of action at the molecular level. Dr. Ayoub and Dr. Maqsood recently published a study that found that the bioactive peptides extracted from camel milk had beneficial effects on the human insulin receptor and glucose transport in cells. This study revealed for the first time the profiling and pharmacological effects of camel whey proteins and their derived peptide fractions on the human insulin receptor and their pathways involved in glucose homeostasis. This sheds more light on the anti-diabetic properties of camel milk by providing the molecular basis that is a solid rationale for using camel milk in the treatment of diabetes.
In addition, another study provided further evidence of the anti-diabetic properties of camel milk proteins, showing anti-hyperglycemic effects in the diabetic rats. These results are promising and could lead to a breakthrough in the fight against diabetes with functional camel milk-based products. Similar research could lead to the emergence of a new generation of anti-diabetic drugs that can be used to formulate functional camel milk-based products. Hence, studying the anti-diabetic properties of camel milk can help reduce the complications of diabetes and contribute to the fight against this chronic disease in the UAE and the world. In addition, such discoveries are critical to the UAE’s economic growth, particularly drug discovery related to camel milk-based diabetes treatments, as camels are recognized as an important economic resource in the UAE. It is worth noting that this study is one of the few reports that provides further scientific insight into whey protein hydrolyzates with potential antidiabetic activity. It was published in the world’s leading journal for milk research. the Journal of Diary Science (Volume 104, Issue 1), the official publication of the American Dairy Science Association. JDS has an Impact Factor of 3.333, ranking fifth out of 63 journals in the Agriculture, Dairy and Animal Science category
