Aratiles-a potential cure for diabetes- Young Ilonnga scientist

She competed as part of the Philippine delegation in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Arizona US last month.

Student scientist from Iloilo city Maria Isabel Layson won the National Science and Technology Fair in February, her entry was the lowly and ignored fruit of aratiles – a potential anti-diabetic cure.

“Nobody pays attention to the fruit and its medicinal properties. They don’t realize that it has potential for becoming a regulator of diabetes,” said Layson.

Maria Isabel Layson and theoften ignored "aratiles"
(photo credit to owner)

Layson discovered potential anti-diabetic components in the aratiles fruit or  locally known as sarisa.

Layson did not win the US competition, but is happy,proud and honored to represent the country in the said competition.

“I didn’t join the competition for fame. I joined this research competition because I wanted to address the problem of diabetes and how my research of aratiles could help solve that,” she said. 

Her research on the lowly aratiles fruit led her to discover bioactive compounds like anthocyanin, flavonoid and polyphenol in the oft ignored fruit. These components may be useful as a cure for diabetes.

“Actually, the results of the study on muntingia calabura or the sarisa, it does contain anti-diabetic properties and it is very rich in antioxidants,” she said.

Layson is an incoming grade 11 student dreams of finding cures that afflict many Filipinos.

The country has seen an increasing trend in diabetes affliction brught about by lifestyle and genetic factors, authorities forecast placing the estimate at 7.8 million diabetic Filipinos by 2030. 

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Report from ABS-CBN News