Off Topic News from Asahi-News Paper
A friend sent the url for this news release. I am posting it for info.
asahi.com 
Quote:
Study: Peppermint kills E. coli O-157
Asahi Shimbun
Researchers have come up with what they hope will be a sweet solution in the prevention of outbreaks of E. coli O-157 baccilus during the approaching rainy season.
Peppermint oil is being touted as a powerful natural disinfectant by members of a joint study group organized by Showa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Lotte Co., a confectionery company, researchers said Tuesday.
The E. coli O-157 bacillus sickened more than 6,000 children in Osaka Prefecture in 1996. Dozens of people have fallen prey to food poisoning germ since then.
The group members said they tested peppermint oil in different concentrations on O-157-cultivated dishes. The results revealed the peppermint essence killed all the germs at 400 micrograms (millionth of a gram) per milliliter of oil.
The members said this amount is only about one-twenty-fifth of the peppermint essence included in a piece of peppermint-flavored chewing gum.
Studies to utilize a chemical called polyphenol, found naturally in Japanese green tea, were also conducted but it could not wipe out all the germs, even at 800 micrograms per milliliter, according to the group.
Only 10 germs of O-157 may trigger poisoning, the group members said.
The group's Masanori Sasatsu, an expert in microbiology, said peppermint essence could be easily diluted in alcohol for medical usage. Dropping 0.1 milliliter of peppermint oil into 250 milliliters of alcohol could make an effective disinfectant for use in kitchens, Sasatsu said.
Unquote:
Regards,
Scott |
