Veg to the rescue...

Specially-bred tomatoes could be adapted to produce a drug used to control Parkinson's disease, new research by the UK’s John Innes Centre (JIC) has found.

The genetically-modified fruit are enriched in the Parkinson’s disease drug L-DOPA, potentially becoming a new, affordable source for one of the world’s essential medicines. This new source of L-DOPA could offer benefits to those who suffer adverse effects, including nausea and behavioural complications, and help those where access to such medicines is restricted. To date just a few wild plants have been found to contain measurable quantities.

In further research at the centre, a type of wrinkled ‘super pea’ may help control blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. The research, in association with Quadram Institute Bioscience and the University of Glasgow, suggests incorporating the peas into foods, in the form of whole pea seeds or flour, may help tackle the global type 2 diabetes epidemic.

“It also demonstrates how plant genetics can be used across many disciplines to study the impact of food on human health,” said JIC’s Professor Claire Domoney.