Oct 31
Star anise, a common spice, is being studied for possible use in fighting the bird flu:
“With the spread of bird flu prompting fears of an epidemic or even pandemic that could kill humans by the million, a Chinese spice hitherto associated with the pleasures of aperitifs has suddenly assumed key medical significance.
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For the fruit known as star anise has an ingredient vital to a drug to fight the strain of avian flu that has already killed more than 60 people in Asia.
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Harvested in China and Vietnam and used as a spice, it provides flavouring for candies, pastis drinks and tobacco.
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But it also has a key pharmaceutical asset – shikimic acid, described by experts as the world’s only weapon against bird flu.”
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