Oil of 'physic nut' can fight Aids, power machinery
Research into a plant commonly known as "physic nut" reveals that as well as powering heavy machinery, its oil can help inhibit HIV/Aids.
The Science and Technology Ministry hopes physic nut plantations can reduce the country's heavy dependence on imported oil. The plant is locally known as "Sabu Dam". It produces oil that could become another alternative to diesel. Tests showed the refined oil helped fuel agricultural machines and power plants. "If all communities grow 365 rai of the plant, we could cut diesel imports by Bt100 trillion a year," Science and Technology Minister Pravich Ratanapian said yesterday during a visit to Kasetsart University's Kamphaeng San Campus at Nakhon Pathom. The campus is the first educational institute to promote the growing of Sabu Dam at the community level. It, however, said the production of Sabu Dam oil would be economically viable only if communities could extract 200 litres of oil every day. That would require 800kg of Sabu Dam for which at least 365 rai of plantation would be needed. Pravich said he would refer the research findings to the Agriculture and Interior Ministries. In a related development, the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department chief, Dr Wichai Chokewiwat, said Sabu Dam had many other benefits, including the inhibition of HIV. But Wichai also warned that the public should be made aware that Sabu Dam contained the toxin curcin.
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