Anti-ageing substance found in bullfrogs: researchers

Here is an interesting article. Something that wasn't mentioned in this article is that there are different forms of vit. E. The natural type is classified as "D", and the synthetic are "D" and "L". Our bodies can only use the "D" so, the synthetic ones are only half as effective. Keep that in mind if you decide to purchase any.


"SEOUL (AFP) - While it only turns into a handsome prince in fairy tales, the homely bullfrog may harbour a valuable anti-ageing substance for humans, South Korean researchers say.

A team led by Professor Kim Se-kwon of Pukyong University in Busan says it isolated a peptide with antioxidant properties from bullfrog skin.

Because of the properties, the material is useful in removing free radicals -- molecules that hasten the ageing process of human cells.

Alpha-tocopherol, also known as Vitamin E, is traditionally considered as the most active antioxidant in humans and widely used in medicines and health supplements.

But its price keeps rising because of surging world demand.

"The new sustance can provide an economic alternative to tocopherol," Kim told AFP Tuesday, referring to another antioxidant. The team's discovery was published by Bioresource Technology, an international journal, last year.

"Because it is water-soluble, the substance may be consumed in much more diverse ways than the oil-soluble tocopherol. You may put it in soft drinks, for example," he said.

The newly found material is also 10 percent more efficient than tocopherol in curbing oxidisation, he added."

Here is the source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080226/od_afp/healthskoreabullfrogoffbeat_080226045844;_ylt=AsF9PKuAVfWXf2CNyMTo0gis0NUE

Here are some other websites to look at if you are interested:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/antioxidantsprevention

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine.asp