August 9, 2007

Israeli study reveals cinnamon can combat bird flu

A new Israeli study reveals cinnamon extract used as an air disinfectant can help against bird flu in airports, or as a daily supplement that protects people against the common flu.

Tel Aviv University technology transfer company Ramot has signed an agreement with Frutarom, a multinational neutraceutical company based in Israel, for applying a cinnamon extract technology as a disinfectant spray against avian flu in airports or daily supplement to prevent common flu.

The study's author Professor Michael Ovadia of Tel Aviv University's Department of Zoology said initial experiments divulge savoury cinnamon extract has efficiently and quickly immunise chicken embryos from the Newcastle disease virus which cost the US poultry industry millions of dollars yearly.

Apparently further studies on avian influenza H9, Sendal virus, and Herpes Simplex 1 also achieved positive results. Not only was the extract able to neutralise the viruses, it also showed for selected viruses that it has the potential to immunise against them as well, Ovadia said.

Ovadia also said cinnamon fills an important niche in the poultry sector where chicks need to be immunised by hand against the deadly Newcastle disease virus. Applying his research to the global scale could only be done with the help of a large company, like Frutarom. The Israeli-based flavour and food additive company has grown in the last 10 to 15 years from US$10 million a year to a projected US$350 million by the end of 2007.

The University is taking the study as one of its research cases in finding protection for people from illness to neutraceuticals in drugs, as well as realising that it can be used in agriculture against bird flu, according to Frutarom's CEO Ori Yehudai.