运动休闲－为防禽流感八角茴香走俏南中国市场

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.

重点记忆词汇

bird flu  n. 禽流感	bird flu  n. 禽流感
herbal  n. 草药的	symptom  n. 症状, 征兆
avian  a. 鸟类的	soar  v. 高飞，剧增
stockpile  v. 储蓄, 贮存	Tibetan  a. 西藏的，藏族人的

1 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

2 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

3 prescriptions   

药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划

参考例句：

• The hospital of traditional Chinese medicine installed a computer to fill prescriptions. 中医医院装上了电子计算机来抓药。
• Her main job was filling the doctor's prescriptions. 她的主要工作就是给大夫开的药方配药。

4 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。