South Korean scientists say kimchi could cure bird flu

[Guest guest]

Agence France-Presse Tuesday March 15, 2005

12:07 PM ET

 

South Korean scientists say kimchi could cure bird flu

 

SEOUL (AFP) - An extract of South Korea's famed spicy fermented

cabbage dish known as kimchi could cure bird flu and other chicken

diseases, scientists said.

 

Researchers at Seoul National University said chickens infected with

the deadly bird flu virus began recovering a week after they were fed

with fermented bacilli extracted from kimchi.

 

The experiment has yet to be scientifically proven but professor Kang

Sa-Ouk said kimchi did appear to have a curative effect.

 

Kimchi, made by fermenting cabbage with radishes, red peppers, garlic

and ginger, is a symbol of national cuisine.

 

" Our research showed the chickens fed with a cultured fluid of

fermented bacilli extracted from kimchi were recovering rapidly from

bird flu and other diseases, " Kang said. " Only four of the 26 chickens

used for our experiment died within four days, " he said.

 

Park said his team needs more research to see whether the extract is

an effective remedy against bird flu. " We will speed up a chemical

study into its constituents, " he said.

 

Since late 2003 millions of birds and 69 humans in Asia have been

infected with bird flu. A total of 33 people have died in Vietnam, 12

in Thailand and one in Cambodia.

 

Kimchi consumption rose sharply two years ago when some Asian

countries were hit by SARS. It was reputed to prevent the respiratory

disease although there was no scientific proof.

 

 

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