Mahidol University plans to stage human trials for a herb-based medicine that researchers believe can kill the coronavirus.
The herbal extract comes from a local herb known as Krachai Kao — or Finger Root — which is also used as an ingredient in Thai cooking.
“We have studied the herbal plant, which is easily found in the country, so that we can take a further step in large-scale production,” said Dr Suradej Hongeng, assistant dean of Research Affairs at the university’s Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital.
“We believe Finger Root is the answer and we are now in the process of making it in a drug form to fight Covid-19 in the very near future.”
The research team is led by Arunee Thitithanyanont, of Mahidol’s Faculty of Science and Dr Suparerk Borwornpinyo, director of the Excellent Centre for Drug Development (ECDD).
Since March the team has researched 120…
