Vietnamese scientists plan to produce a main material for production of anti-bird flu medicine Tamiflu from anise, a small tree, in the next few months, according to local newspaper Young People on Monday.

Vietnam's Chemistry Institute plans, in the next five or six months, to make Oseltamivir (active agent of Tamiflu) on a laboratory basis out of star anise, an aromatic Asian evergreen tree having purple-red flowers and star-like clusters of anise- scented fruit.

The institute's scientists have found out a process of extracting shikimic acid, a key material to synthesize Oseltamivir, from anise fruit. One hundred grams of the fruit can turn out 5-10 grams of shikimic acid, or six grams of the fruit can make one Tamiflu capsule.

Vietnam's Health Ministry announced in November 2005 that it had inked a deal with Roche, Swiss producer of Tamiflu, under which the firm would supply Vietnam with necessary materials and techniques to manufacture the medicine in the country. Roche also agreed to supply Vietnam with 25 million Tamiflu capsules in case of bird flu pandemics.

The northern province of Lang Son with over 8,000 hectares of star anise, the biggest anise-growing area in Vietnam, annually produces 5,000-6,000 tons of the dried fruit.

Now, the country uses anise as a spice or extracts oil from it for production of traditional medicines and export.

Star anise fruit is a star-shaped, dark brown pod that contains a pea-sized seed in each of its eight segments. It is a commonly used spice and tea flavoring in Asian cuisines, and widely used to flavor liqueurs and baked goods in Western cultures.

Source: Xinhua