ASAFOETIDA-ΕΝΑ ΦΥΤΟ ΕΝΑΝΤΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΓΡΙΠΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΧΟΙΡΩΝ

OI "ΤΑΜΙΦΛΟΥΔΕΣ' ΑΓΟΡΑΖΟΥΝ "ΦΥΚΙΑ' ΚΑΙ ΤΑ
ΠΩΛΟΥΝ ΓΙΑ "ΜΕΤΑΞΩΤΕΣ ΚΟΡΔΕΛΛΕΣ""


Δημοσιευουμε αθρο απο την Ινδικη εφημεριδα ΤΗΕ TIMES OF INDIA, το οποιο γραφει οτι Κινεζοι και Ινδοι επιστημονες δηλωνουν οτι το φυτο ASAFOETIDA ,μπορει να καταπολεμησει την γριπη H1N1 (swine flu) βασικα συστατικα του οποιου υπαρχουν στο πολυδιαφημισμενο φαρμακο TAMIFLU.
To asafoetida ,ονομαζεται " Heeng " στην Ινδια ,και υπαρχει σε περιοχης μεταξυ Αφγανισταν -Ιραν και στην κεντρικη Κινα ,γνωστο στην Κινα σαν "το φυτο του διαβολου"λογω της ασχημης μυρωδιας του.
Κινεζοι επιστημονες ειπαν οτι εχουν "σκοτωσει" τον ιο της Γριπης των χοιρων στα εργαστηρια τους, οπως με το ιδιο "asafoetida" ειχαν καταφερει αν εξολοθρευσουν το ετος 1918 κατα την πανδημια της περιβοητης "ισπανικης γριππης" τον ιο που σκοτωσε εκατομμυρια ανθρωπων.
Οι επιστημονες ειπαν οτι διαπιστωσαν οτι μερικες χημικες ουσιες αυτου του φυτου εχουν περισσοτερη δυναμη εναντιον του ιου της γριππης των χοιρων απο οιοδηποτε αλλο φαρμακο που διδεται σημερα εναντιον αυτης της γριπης.

ΑΡΘΡΟ THE TIMES OF INDIA
Asafoetida could fight swine flu, say Chinese scientists

NEW DELHI: India and China seem to be competing to find an effective natural source for antivirals that could combat the H1N1 influenza virus.
While India recently found trees in the Western Ghats whose leaves produced large quantities of shikimic acid -- the most important ingredient of Tamilfu, the antiviral of choice against H1N1 -- China has stumbled upon the antiviral properties of asafoetida, whose roots contain a compound that killed the H1N1 swine flu virus in the lab.
The asafoetida plant, called heeng in India, grows throughout Iran, Afghanistan and mainland China and is commonly known as Dung of the Devil due to its pungent smell. According to Chinese researchers, the plant was used in China against the influenza virus during the great 1918 Spanish flu epidemic. But until now, no one had confirmed that asafoetida had natural antiviral properties.
The researchers said that in their laboratory experiments, a group of chemicals in the plant's extracts appeared to have a stronger potency against H1N1 flu than a prescription antiviral medication already in use against the flu. They said these compounds may serve as promising lead components for new drug development against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection. Fully grown, the plant can often reach six feet in height.
The main use of asafoetida is from the collection of its gum. All plants which are over four years old produce a gum in its roots. Ancient Romans preferred asafoetida as a flavoring agent above all other herbs. India's ayurveda system recommends asafoetida for the treatment of colic as it stimulates the mucous membranes in the body.
It is also used in the treatment of high cholesterol and irritable bowel syndrome. Many herbalists also consider asafoetida as an effective remedy for the treatment of internal worms and to treat different kinds of intestinal parasites. Meanwhile, India is undertaking industrial trials of the leaves found from the Western Ghats with shikimic acid in them. Scientists from Bangalore had found at least seven plant species that yielded shikimic acid from the Western Ghat forests.