The Arius fruit, endemic to Batanes, could help fight cancer and the government has given Batanes State College funding for further research.
Orti Despuez of InterAksyon.com reports the Bureau of Agricultural Research has released P1 million to BSC for research into the medicinal properties of Arius. "Because of the flavonoid and tannin content, we're looking at its medicinal nature. There's antioxidant, and there must be anti-cancer properties," BAR director Nicomedes Eleazar said on InterAksyon.
Aside from research into the medicinal properties of Arius, Batanes State College has also developed jam, wine, juice, and tea from the fruit. BSC will tie up with the University of the Philippines in Los Baños for commercial production of the Arius products.
For more on this story, log in to InterAksyon.com.