Plant Could Cure H1N1 Flu
September 29, 2009 In a study, Fang-Rong Chang, Yang-Chang Wu and colleagues note that the plant, Ferula assa-foetida, grows mainly in Iran, Afghanistan and mainland China. It has a pleasant onion-like taste when cooked, but when raw it has sap so foul smelling that some call it the ‘Dung of the Devil.’
The plant was used as a possible remedy during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic that killed millions of people. Until now, though, nobody had determined whether the plant does produce natural antiviral compounds.
Chang and Wu identified a group of chemical compounds in extracts of the plant that showed greater potency against influenza A (H1N1) than a prescription antiviral drug available for the flu.
“Overall, the present study has determined that sesquiterpene coumarins from F. assa-foetida may serve as promising lead components for new drug development against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection,” the authors write.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909103009.htm
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