'Sunderban mangrove has components to cure Type 2 diabetes'

Kolkata, Feb 1: Sundari trees, the most extensively found mangrove species in the Sunderbans, have some components which can bring down the level of Type 2 diabetes, according to a study.

Conducted over a period of five years, the study "Identification of Anti-Diabetic compounds from Sunderban Mangrove" by the scientists of R G Kar Medical College and hospital in West Bengal government, has claimed to have found that various parts of these trees from leaves to aerial roots contain components to maintain the blood sugar level in Type 2 diabetics patients.

"It has been revealed for the first time that Sundari trees which are quite abundant in Sunderbans region have high anti-diabetic components which can be very useful in curing Type 2 diabetics. We will soon apply for patent," Anjan Adhikari, the lead scientist of the project, told PTI.

"Five years ago we started a study to record the food habits of the people living in the Sunderban regions especially those near the mangrove forests. There we came to know that the people living in Sunderban areas depend a lot on medicinal plants and they have faith that roots and leaves of various plants can cure several diseases," Adhikari said.

Sunderbans, home to the largest mangrove belt in the world and a world heritage site, houses 65 species of the 16 families of mangrove out of which 37 such as Rhizophora Mucronata, Heritiera fomes, Heritiera, Nipa are most common.

The study which was funded by the department of Science and Technology of West Bengal government was conducted on the Rhizopora Mucronata species and Heritiera fomes (Sundari tree).

PTI