Chinese Scientists Discover Potential New Microbe-Killing Drug

SCMP says in its report “Scientists in Yunnan unlock secrets of ‘magical’ microbe-killing plant” today that Chinese scientists have found a plant in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province that has the potential to be a safe, effective microbe killer.

The herb medicine has long been known to tribal doctors. SCMP says, “Tribal doctors have used oil extracted from the seeds to cure stomach disorders and flesh wounds since ancient times. The mild flavoured fruit has a pleasant fragrance and is used as a food preservative.

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden covers 1,250 hectares. Photo: CAS

Ground-breaking medicinal research of Yunnan ma qian is being conducted at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. Photo: CAS

A fifth of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden is primary rainforest. Photo: CAS

“The herbal germ-killer shows promise in treating patients while avoiding the serious overuse of antibiotics in China, according to researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).”

CAS Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Mengla county has studied the plant and confirmed its potential as an effective alternative to conventional antibiotics without side effect.

Due to excessive use of antibiotics in the world, especially in China, some germs have become resistant to conventional antibiotics. For example, nearly 7 per cent of tuberculosis cases in China are resistant to a variety of drugs.

Drug resistance in the world

Therefore, there is an urgent need for development of a new drug from the plant.

However, CAS scientists are very careful. They are preparing clinical trials of the drug but they want to do further research to know more about the plant before mass application of the drug.

Source: SCMP “Scientists in Yunnan unlock secrets of ‘magical’ microbe-killing plant”

---