KARACHI, May 23: Diabetes can be avoided and treated with the use of suitable metal elements in medicines, said Prof Dr Mohammad Maroof Tahir of the Saint Cloud State University, Minnesota, USA at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University.

He was speaking to young scientists of the institute on the topic of “Synthesis of Metal Based Drugs for the Treatment of Diabetes”, here on Friday, a press release said.

He said: “We are working on the use of element Vanadium and looking for its possible benefits in the treatment of diabetes as the element Platinum is helpful in the treatment of cancers”.

He said that the main purpose of his visit was to design a research on this topic, in collaboration with Prof Dr M Iqbal Chaudhry, and he hoped that the purpose would be achieved.

During his visit, arranged in collaboration with since and technology ministry, Dr Tahir introduced a new faculty of ‘Bio-Inorganic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry’ at the research institute.

In this connection, 11 lectures by the professors had been arranged, which were in progress at the institute followed by certifications.

Meanwhile, praising the standard and state-of-art teaching and research activities at the HEJ, he said that these could be compared to the Western institutions, which he considered an honour for the country.—PPI