Wellnews

All the news that's fit
By Scott LaFee
December 21, 2004

Chemistry

Everyone knows that real Christmas trees are flammable.
New research suggests they're anti-inflammatory, too.

Writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,
scientists at the University of Turku in Finland say they
have identified anti-inflammatory compounds in the bark of
the Scotch pine.

The compounds, called phenolics, are found in a wide variety
of plants, but this is the first report of their presence in a
species commonly used for Christmas trees. The researchers
suggest that the compounds might be developed into food
supplements or drugs for treating arthritis or pain.

Preliminary cell studies suggest other pine species might
prove to be pharmaceutically beneficial as well.