(News.com.au) A CHINESE herb used for centuries to treat snakebites and boils is showing promise in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Australian, US and European scientists found an asian violet known as viola yedoensis, contains tiny proteins which appear to kill off infected cells.
These anti-HIV and anti-bacterial qualities make the plant a target for therapies to treat the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, which is spreading across Third World countries.
It is used in China for burns, inflammation, snakebite, bronchitis and hepatitis.