The traditional Chinese medicine berberine, long said to have beneficial effects for people suffering from type 2 diabetes, has picked up some scientific support from researchers at the Garvan Institute in Sydney, Australia.

Berberine is found in the roots and bark of a number of plants used for medicinal purposes including wound healing and treatment of diarrhoea. It has also been documented in Chinese literature as having a glucose lowering effect when administered to people with diabetes.

"Our studies in animal models of diabetes show that berberine acts in part by activating an enzyme in the muscle and liver that is involved in improving sensitivity of the tissue to insulin," said Garvan scientist Dr Jiming Ye. "This in turn helps lower blood sugar levels. In addition, it seems berberine can help reduce body weight".

"Berberine has been used for decades, if not centuries, with few reported side effects, said Professor David E. James, head of the Garvan's Diabetes & Obesity Research Program.

"Given the limitations of existing medicines we are excited to have evidence that berberine may be a helpful new treatment for type 2 diabetes," James said. "However, despite its widespread use in traditional medicine practices, it will still have to be evaluated properly following the defined clinical trials process."

The next step, he said, is to investigate how berberine activates the enzyme that mediates these "insulin-sensitising" effects.