Indonesian researcher finds herbal formula to curb bird flu

"Indonesian researcher finds herbal formula to curb bird flu", Xinhua,
China, September 15, 2005,
Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/15/content_3495587.htm

An Indonesian researcher has found a herbal formula to ward off bird
flu virus on chicken, saying that there is a possibility of using the
formula to other poultry and human.

Sumardi, 42, a researcher at the Food Technology School of Semarang's
Soegipapranata Catholic University, accidentally found the formula in
July.

In a telephone interview with Xinhua from the capital of Central Java
Province of Semarang on Thursday, Sumardi said, the formula basically
comprised four traditional medicinal plants: Java chili powder (piper
retrofactum), white turmeric extract (curcuma xanthorriza), temu ireng
extract (curcuma aeruginosa) and powder of fragrant wild ginger
(zingiber aromaticum).

Sumardi mixed these four materials with honey bees, cane sugar,and some
water.

Among the four basic materials, zingiber aromaticum had the strongest
effect to avoid the attack of the lethal virus, he said.

"The zingiber aromaticum has ion of OH minus and OH plus that can
easily react. It is strongly predicted that the ion curbs the growth of
H5N1 virus," he added.

The researcher cited that in a normal condition, one virus of H5N1
could develop into four within two seconds.

"So the scores of the bird flu virus in chickens being attacked will
not increase, and the number of virus can be declined as the virus has
life cycle," he said, "So the chickens can survive, despite they grow
slower."

These chickens are safe to be consumed as long as they are cooked with
at least 80 degree Celsius, he said.

Sumardi said, in July he tried this formula with 400 chicks, which were
places close to carcasses of chicken that had died of the H5N1 virus,
somewhere in East Java province.

He divided these chicks into four groups of 100 each. The first group
was given no medicine at all. The second group was given a low dose of
10 percent, the third group of 20 percent and the fourth 30 percent.

"On the fourth day, all the chicks treated with the formula with
various doses are survive, but those without having the treatment all
died," said Sumardi.

But, he said that if the formula treated to the poultry in too high
doses it could decline chickens' desire to eat.

Regarding to using the formula for other poultry such as goat, pig, and
cow, he said, "I believe so, it needs an examination."

He said that the culling method recommended in Indonesia was developed
from the experience of developing countries, where poultry racing is
very concentrated in almost factory-type situation. But in Indonesia
there are millions of chickens live in backyards.

.

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