The “Coronavirus” is the newest viral pathogen that has now caused what has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there exists no vaccine to prevent this disease or to prevent the spread of this disease. The CDC has recommended these preventative actions by every person to help slow down and even prevent the spread of this deadly virus:
- Avoid close contact with people who are already sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
- If you are sick, stay home to avoid getting others sick.
- Cover your sneeze or cough with your elbow or a tissue and if using a tissue throw the tissue in the trash immediately.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and touch objects often using a disinfectant wipe or a household cleaning spray.
Of course these are good suggestions and suggestions that should be followed always not just during times of heightened health alerts. Here are a couple natural supplements that may also help prevent the transmission of the viruses:
Resveratrol:
An in-vitro study done in 2006 in China examined the effects of “stilbene derivatives” and their ability to inhibit the re-creation of the Coronavirus. Stilbene derivatives are an important family of compounds that are usually associated with plants and are produced in response to an injury or an attack by a pathogen (bacteria, virus or a microorganism that can cause a disease). Resveratrol is the most widely studied Stilbene. In this 2006 study, many Stilbene compounds were able to stop the replication of the Coronavirus. It is not exactly clear if this study in fact included the Resveratrol as one of the Stilbene compounds.
However an in-vitro study done in 2017 was undertaken to look at the antiviral effects of Resveratrol specifically against the Coronavirus. In this study, patients infected with the Coronavirus were given Resveratrol resulting in significant inhibition of the Coronavirus infections in participants receiving the Resveratrol supplement. Additionally researchers saw prolonged cellular survival after the viral infection as well as reductions in the replication of nucleocapsid, a protein necessary for Coronavirus replication, in the study participants receiving the Resveratrol. It also appeared the Resveratrol down-regulated cellular death (apoptosis) caused by the Coronavirus.
The 2017 study showed Resveratrol clearly was a potent AntiCoronavirus agent at least in-vitro. Researchers suggested that Resveratrol could be used as a potential antiviral agent against the Coronavirus in the future.
Resveratrol and the Immune System:
Resveratrol does increase certain immune cells called gamma delta T cells. In research done on humans to study the effects of repeated doses of Resveratol on circulating immune cells in healthy persons, study participants received 1000 mg of Resveratrol daily for a period of 28 days. It was found that Resveratrol was both safe and well tolerated. Significant increases in the numbers of circulating gamma delta T-cells and regulatory T cells were seen. Circulating gamma delta T-cells function as the first line of defense and are a bridge between innate and adaptive responses.
Black Elderberry:
Black Elderberry also may offer a measure of protection against the Coronavirus, although there are no clinical studies to back up this conclusion. Gene’s rational for recommending Black Elderberry is based on the success Black Elderberry has seen with treating the flu virus.
The flu virus invades cells by puncturing their walls with hemagglutinin (tiny spikes that cover the virus’s surface). In research on Black Elderberry, the natural compounds found in this medicinal plant actually render the spikes on the flu virus useless by binding to them and preventing them from breaking through the cell membrane. The spikes found on the virus are covered with an enzyme called neuraminidase. This enzyme is what breaks down the wall of the cell.
A double blind placebo-controlled study was done in Israel to determine how well Black Elderberry would work on people who actually had the flu. The results were a significant improvement in 20% of the participants on flu symptoms; fever, muscle pain and cough, within 24 hours of receiving the Black Elderberry. After day 2 another 75% of participants saw much improvement and after the 3rd day over 90% of the study participants saw a complete cure. In the placebo group only 8% of participants saw improvements after 24 hours and the remainder of the 92% of the placebo group improvements were seen with 6 or more days. Influenza antibodies were higher in the group receiving the Black Elderberry extract compared with those receiving the placebo. This indicates an enhanced immune response in the participants receiving the Black Elderberry Extract. Other studies confirm the result of this study.
So how does this relate to the Coronavirus? Hemagglutinin is also found on the surface of the Coronavirus. Actually, it is believed that the Coronovirus may have evolved from a certain type of flu. It is not much of a stretch to believe that Black Elderberry may also be effective against the Coronavirus. Of course human clinical trials should be performed. Recommended dose is 175 mg daily as a preventative dose.
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