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Discoveries from the Past

The study of a 252 year old text on the plants of Ambon (an Indonesian island) has resulted in the discovery of a new potential antibiotic. The (increasingly rare) atun tree (Atuna racemosa) of Indonesia contains a compound that has been shown to kill certain types of methicillin-resistant bacteria.

17th-Century Remedy; 21st-Century Potency from The New York Times

Thanks to David Brownstein for sending along the link!

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:06 AM on January 18, 2007