Extraction method

A method of treating type II diabetes in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a molasses extract derived from molasses having about 20° to about 50° brix and a viscosity of between about 50 to about 100 centipoise,

• wherein the extract is produced by a process comprising:
• i) heating molasses and/or mixing molasses with water in a ratio of 75:25 to 25:75 so as to reduce the viscosity thereof;
• ii) mixing the viscosity reduced molasses with ethanol to produce an extraction mixture comprising from about 70% to about 85% v/v ethanol at a pH of about 4 to about 7.5;
• ii) allowing a precipitate to form in the extraction mixture;
• iii) removing the precipitate from the extraction mixture to obtain a supernatant;
• and
• iv) removing ethanol from the supernatant to produce the extract, the extract having α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and comprising flavonoids in a concentration of at least 25 mg/mL, polyphenols in a concentration of at least 25 mg/mL and a colour of about 800 to about 140 milliabsorbance units at 420 nm.