Peptides play a key role in physiological activities

Hyderabad, Feb 23 (UNI) Japanese Peptide Society Chairman Yoshiaki Kiso has said peptides, used for the treatment of various killer diseases like diabetes, endocrine disorders, HIV, Cancer and heart-related problems, would play a key role in physiological activities.

Inaugurating the two-day India's first ''National Symposium on Peptides'' yesterday, Prof Yoshiaki said the future belonged to peptides which had huge potential as drugs and were considered as natural pharmaceutical. The peptide drugs were very cost effective, with less side effects when compared to conventional drugs and would be more effective, he added.

He said India was recognised as a world leader for innovative research in peptide chemistry, comformational analysis and biology.

Peptides are more acceptable to the body as they are parts of proteins and completely biodegradable, said Indian Peptide Society Chairman V S Chauhan.

Prof Chauhan said a wide range of drugs had been formulated based on peptide. Already there were 45 peptide based drugs in the market, treating a vast spectrum of disease.

These durgs had varying applications in the prevention and treatment of cardio vascular, cancer, kidney, AIDS, horomonal, osteoporosis and other diseases, he added.

More than 200 delegates from across the country and overseas were in this symposium participating. During these two days the professionals and research scholars would speak on various subjects of interest to the community.

The Indian Peptide Society was formed last year to provide a forum for advancing and promoting knowledge of the chemistry and biology of peptides.

UNI