A European consortium of researchers from Local Food-Nutraceuticals, led by pharmaceutical scientists from the University of London, documented and analysed 127 locally consumed wild or semi-wild plants in three Mediterranean countries, Greece, Italy and Spain. They looked to see if the plants had any properties that are of benefit to aging-related disease, focusing in particular on chronic diseases of the heart and the brain using cellular models for antioxidant effect, or the inhibition of enzymes.

The researchers found many positive results. Reichardia picroides collected both from Southern Italy and Greece showed the highest antioxidant activity of the species from this region. Papaver rhoeas, a species collected in regions of Italy and Greece, also showed significant activity.

Professor Michael Heinrich from the Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy at The School of Pharmacy, University of London says, "Obviously vegetables, fruits, fish, garlic and olive oil are fundamental to the Mediterranean diet and its effect on health. But we have discovered the important benefits of previously unrecognised healthy local food plants."

The researchers found that the use of these plants differed from one village to the next. "It is important to document this traditional knowledge before it disappears, which is sadly happening very fast," Professor Heinrich says.

Professor Heinrich added that he could envisage that one of the plants the group has identified may become a new rucola, or rocket as it is more commonly known. "A few year's ago no-one had heard of rocket, but then tastes changed and in a short period of time it became a best-seller. Some of the plants that we tested could become a food specialty in the UK in the future," he said.

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Egypt also has an adequate supply of Tamiflu, the anti-viral medication thought at present to be the best defence against bird flu for humans.

The agriculture ministry says the majority of Egyptian commercial poultry flocks have been vaccinated along with 20 percent of domestic birds.

In order to contain the virus Egypt has culled 30 million birds since February.

Almost all those who became infected with the virus in Egypt, did so after coming into contact with "backyard" birds and the virus remains essentially a disease of birds.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation says the promise of cooler weather in the autumn could induce more cases in poultry, and they have urged increased surveillance along with a fair compensation scheme.

El-Bushra says Egypt has learned from the last outbreak and is well positioned to deal with the virus.

He says they have been very transparent and that has paid off and earned the country the respect of the World Health Organization, international organizations and other countries.