A Chinese spice that increases the flavour of food has become the centre of public attention, thanks to the growing profile of bird flu.

Star anise, a herbal fruit mainly grown in China, as well as Viet Nam, is a primary ingredient in the production of an anti-viral drug which helps to fight bird flu symptoms. 

More specifically, star anise is the basic component¹ for Shikimic acid. Shikimic acid is the base material for the production of Tamiflu, the only drug available that combats the deadly strain of avian flu, which some fear may kill millions of humans.

The new market value and soaring fears of a Tamiflu shortage have triggered a price surge for star anise in its main production regions of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous² Region, Guangdong, Yunnan and Fujian provinces. In Guangxi, the price has doubled in the past week.

Despite its new fame as the key ingredient of Tamiflu, star anise has rarely been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat flu. But in some Tibetan prescriptions³, the star anise is used to cure influenza⁴.

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