Studies show that evergreen trees contain a material used for the antiviral drug, Tamiflu. The material is called, Shikmic acid, and turns out to be a key ingredient in the drug that fights the flu. Shikmic acid makes up an estimated 3% of the dry weight of pine and spruce needles, and can be extracted using water and ethanol. This newly acquired information is important because Tamiflu is the most widely used drug to treat the flu. With addition to pine, spruce, and fir needles, Shikmic acid is also found in the star anise, a seed pod from the native tree to Southwestern China and Japan, the Illicium verum. The star anise is used as a spice in Eastern Chinese cooking and some Vietnam and Indian dishes, as well. The star anise is similar to the anise, because they get their licorice taste from the same chemical compound, anethol. However, the star anise is stronger.
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