By CKPG News

UNBC researchers test water-purifying plant

Apr 13, 2016 | 3:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — UNBC could be on the edge of making global history.

Dr. Chris Opio and graduate student Chandehl Morgan have grown Moringa trees in the I.K. Barber Enhanced Forestry and today, taken portions of the roots from the six-month-old trees to dry.

Native to places like India, the Moringa tree is also called the “miracle tree” because of its positive health aspects.

“Studies in the States have shown that extracts from the seeds in powder form can kill E. coli and fecal coliform by about 99%. That’s the seeds alone!” says Chris Opio of UNBC’s Ecosystem Science. 

“But our argument is that, in order to get the seeds, you have to wait until the trees mature. Why not look at the roots?” 

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It’s something no one else in research has ever looked at.

Samples from the roots were taken today and will be dried and tested for metals and toxins.

At that point, water samples will be gathered from areas around Northern BC known to have issues with E. coli to assess whether it, too, can kill the bacteria.