SCOTTISH scientists have made a major breakthrough in combating holiday jet lag misery after developing a revolutionary pill made from an exotic cactus fruit.

The £2.50 tablet, derived from the extracts of prickly pear skin, has had success in tackling the debilitating effects of the travel.

Originally manufactured to help prevent fatigue in commercial scuba divers in the Mediterranean, trials on air passengers were so successful it is now being marketed primarily as a jet lag cure.

Known as Protex-H, the pill has been endorsed by medical experts and pharmacists and is even quickly developing a following among professional athletes and the celebrity jet set.

Taking flights over different time zones is the most common cause of jet lag, which can cause dizziness, disorientation and even amnesia. Until now it was assumed the condition was an unavoidable by-product of travelling, and that there was little that could be done to overcome its effects.

The Protex-H tablet was developed by Argyll-based Bradan Ltd, which specialises in aquaculture and scientific research for the fishing industry.

Professor Ronald Roberts, the company's director, said tests had produced "remarkable" results and promised a money-back guarantee if customers still experienced jet lag.

He said: "As an international scientist over the past 40 years I have had to travel extensively by air. It had been my personal experience that the jet lag I suffered had, until recently, got worse than better with age.

"I heard about the use of prickly pear extract to reduce fatigue in commercial divers and that led us to carry out our own studies.

"The results have belied all our preconceptions."

Protex-H was tested on air passengers who made regular trips around the world and were prone to jet lag. Almost all suffered some degree of fatigue without the pill, all but eradicated with just one dose.