Beer Molecule May Benefit Diabetics

Hard to believe, but molecules found in beer, specifically in the hoppy humulones, may actually aid in developing medicines to help diabetics as well as other conditions.  Details from FierceBiotech:

Using good old X-ray crystallography, University of Washington chemistry professor Werner Kaminsky found previously unknown variation in the structure of humulones, a bitter acid from hops found in beer, that could have a significant impact on the use of the compound in medicines, UW’s The Daily reported. The discovery centers on the two different atomic arrangements for the molecule–what chemists call handedness.

KinDex collaborated with Kaminsky on the study as the company worked on nailing down the right structure of humulones to impact insulin sensitivity and glucose management, the newspaper reported. Founded in 2009, the little-known biotech is studying a variety of compounds for potential uses in Type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardio metabolic syndrome, according to the company’s website.
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