Guest guest Posted January 27, 2001 Report Share Posted January 27, 2001 An interesting article on wasabi that was recently in the news. TOKYO (Reuters) - It's pungent enough to clear sinuses and may help ward off cancer. Now a Japanese scientist says wasabi, the spicy green horseradish that typically accompanies sushi, also prevents tooth decay. The same chemical compounds that give the condiment its piquant taste and aroma work to inhibit the growth of cavity-causing microbes, said Hideki Masuda, a research director at Japanese food flavorings maker Ogawa & Co Ltd. "Wasabi contains isothiocyanates, which have been found to inhibit the activity of an enzyme that plays an important role in the formation of dental plaque," he said. The garnish, made by grating the stems of the Wasabi japonica plant, has long been extolled for preventing dangerous blood clots and reducing the likelihood of cancer. Potent enough to bring tears to the eyes, it is also hailed as an anti-asthmatic. But the results of Masuda's laboratory tests mark the first time wasabi has been shown to reduce dental bills. He said that since his findings were limited to the test tube, further experiments would be needed to confirm the condiment's microbe-zapping powers on human mouths. "If it is effective in humans, we can expect to see a wide range of applications, including wasabi toothpaste," Masuda said. "But we might need to add something to mask the pungent taste." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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