The scientists at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Department of Biotechnology have received a United States Patent for inventing a new process to cure diabetes mellitus from Indian green mussel (Perna viridis) extract.

According to the inventors, the process for the cure and control of diabetes mellitus using natural products from Perna Viridis is non-toxic and cyto-protective. The extract also possesses islet neogenesis activity as evidenced by the reversal of the experimental diabetes in mice. The invention consists of a method for treatment of a patient with Diabetes mellitus by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a mussel extract to the patient, mussel extract being a hydrolysate of meat and mantle fluid from Perna Viridis.

The Russian scientists developed the process of preparation of extract for the first time. A patent was also filed on a process developed by Russian scientists vide Patent No. RU 2043109. The extract prepared from the Perna viridis has previously been found to be active against all influenza, herpes and hepatitis viral strains. The extract is also found to possess not only prophylactic efficacy for protection from several viral diseases but it also shows a high therapeutic activity against these diseases. Indian scientists Ramesh Ramachandra and Anil Chatterjee have now come out with its properties to cure diabetes.
The US patent for an application filed four years ago was granted on July 11, 2006.