Hong Kong - Hong Kong scientists claim to have discovered a Chinese medicinal herb which cuts liver fat - a condition associated with pot bellies in the overweight.
In a study, the traditional medicinal plant phyllanthus urinaria, or chamberbitter, was found to significantly reduce the increased fat levels in the liver of mice suffering from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Scientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who carried out the study, said the plant's ingredients controlled the molecules involved in inflammation and also reduced inflammation and fibrosis - or scarring - in the liver.
They concluded the plant had shown potent efficacy and that it may be a useful treatment for patients with NASH.
NASH is the most extreme progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a common condition which affects between 15 and 30 per cent of the population in Asia.
In more affluent countries such as the United States, fatty liver is believed to affect up to
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