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| London University touts Israeli anti-avian Flu drug
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Scientists at a British university have found that an elderberry-based drug developed by an Israeli company can reduce the Avian Flu virus in cells by 99 percent.
Sambucol, created by the Jerusalem-based Razei Bar Industries, was tested by the Retroscreen Virology medical research institute at the University of London.
Representatives of the testing team told the International Conference on Bird Flu, held at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London last week, that the drug was found to be an immensely effective treatment against what has been termed as the Avian Flu 'pandemic'.
Avian Flu has killed more than 80 people, mainly in Asia, who contracted it from sick birds. It is feared the virus could mutate and spread between humans and concerns were recently raised that the virus had spread to Turkey.
Wider testing necessary
While Retroscreen Virolgy tested the drug against the H5N1 strain of Avian Flu, Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, President of Razei Bar said she is conducting further investigations into the effectiveness of Sambucol on a wider scale and against other strains.
Mumcuoglu, who developed the preparation using a secret ingredient from elderberries, said that studies also showed that Sambucol could even combat the ordinary winter flu.
"The flu virus cannot replicate by itself. It must do so inside a living cell,” Mumcuoglu said.
“It binds to cells via hemagglutin on the virus surface. Sambucol blocks the hemagglutin and prevents the entry of the virus into cells.”
Optimistic outlook
Mumcuoglu stressed that the results did not yet mean the preparation would cure Avian Flu in humans, but said it gave cause for optimism that a cure for humans was on its way.
Further laboratory research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem campus found that Sambucol was somewhat effective against avian flu strains that attack pigs and fowl.
Sambucol is already widely available in pharmacies and health food stores for its effectiveness against the common flu. The drug was shown to cut the duration and severity of the common flu by up to half.
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