Home>News Center>China
       
 

Cooking spice key player in bird flu battle
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-01 07:26

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.

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.
The Star Anise, a rare herb grown in China used to flavour duck dishes and treat infants for colic, on sale together with other spices at a market in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region October 25, 2005. [AFP]
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.

Harvested in China and Vietnam and used as a spice, it provides flavouring for candies, pastis drinks and tobacco.

But it also has a key pharmaceutical asset - shikimic acid, described by experts as the world's only weapon against bird flu.

Star anise, the dried, star-shaped multiple fruit of a small oriental tree which is a member of the magnolia family, is a traditional ingredient of oriental cuisine with its pungent, liquorice-like flavour.

It also serves as the main flavouring of the liqueurs Pernod and Anisette.

But its medical significance had already been noted before bird flu arrived, including potential cancer-fighting properties.

Now it has sprung to new prominence as a chief source of shikimic acid, a vital ingredient of Tamiflu, one of the rare anti-viral drugs that has proved effective against the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu which has infected 118 people in Asia since late 2003 and killed more than 60 people.

"From this one plant you can make both a drink -- pastis -- and a pharmaceutical product, Tamiflu," said Albert Elgrissy, communications director for the pastis maker Ricard in Marseille.
Page: 12



Drill against bird flu
Police training in Zhengzhou
Car on a tree
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

World Bank raises China's growth forecast to 9.3%

 

   
 

Prosecutor: Bribe-givers to be blacklisted

 

   
 

China to drop urbanite-peasant differences

 

   
 

Two billion yuan earmarked to control bird flu

 

   
 

CIA uses secret prisons abroad: report

 

   
 

Viet Nam, China seek early border agreement

 

   
  Disposable tableware poses health risk
   
  China, India to extend tariff cuts
   
  Olympic goods win licensing go-ahead
   
  Mine blast kills 17 in Shanxi
   
  Students may get a crack at US science books
   
  Capital int'l airport seeks expansion
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008  
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 日本在线高清版卡免v| 玉蒲团之偷情宝鉴电影| 日韩精品一区二区三区老鸦窝| 人妻丰满熟妇av无码区| 精品欧美一区二区三区四区| 国产午夜无码视频在线观看| xl上司带翻译无马赛樱花| 欧美性色黄在线视| 伊人色综合视频一区二区三区| 美女高潮黄又色高清视频免费| 国产制服丝袜在线| 好吊色永久免费视频大全| 女生张开腿让男生通| 久久99精品久久久久久| 日韩欧美一区二区三区四区| 亚洲乱码一二三四区乱码| 欧美真实破苞流血在线播放| 人妻无码久久久久久久久久久| 精品国产不卡一区二区三区| 国产XXX69麻豆国语对白| 青青青青草原国产免费| 国产成人涩涩涩视频在线观看| 无人码一区二区三区视频| 强开小娟嫩苞又嫩又紧| 丰满人妻一区二区三区视频53| 日韩不卡手机视频在线观看| 五月激情婷婷网| 波多野结衣按摩| 免费A级毛片无码免费视频| 精品免费久久久久久成人影院| 四虎影永久在线高清免费| 手机看片福利久久| 国产超碰人人爽人人做人人添| av72发布页| 拧花蒂尿用力按凸起喷水尿| 亚洲成a人无码| 欧美黑人巨大videos精品| 啊v在线免费观看| 色一情一乱一伦一视频免费看 | 国产精品一区二区综合| 5g影院天天爽爽|