BREAKING! COVID-19 Herbs: Study Shows That Fortunellin Found In KumQuats Is A Natural Dimerization Inhibitor Of The SARS-CoV-2 3CL-Protein
Source: COVID-19 Herbs Aug 10, 2020 4 years, 3 months, 1 week, 8 hours, 28 minutes ago
COVID-19 Herbs: Greek researchers from the University of Crete has discovered that a natural occurring chemical from Kum Quats called fortunellin has potential inhibitory properties against the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it is able to inhibit the dimerization process in the virus 3C protein replication process.
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The researchers made the discovery using computational silico molecular docking studies and gone into vitro studies and vivo studies in animals.
The research findings were published on a preprint server that is managed by Cornell University and has not been peer-reviewed yet.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.07736
Fortunellin (acacetin 7-O-neohesperidoside) is a citrus flavonoid isolated from kumquat fruit .It is basically a polyphenol. Kumquat extract has attracted much attention recently for its beneficial effects on human health, which include antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5810275/#:~:text=Fortunellin%20(acacetin%207%2DO%2D,%2Dinflammatory%20characteristics%20(20).
The natural polyphenol is has demonstrated antiviral activity on other viruses as well including on the proteases of HIV virus and is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1021949816301879 and
https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/?year=2018&vol=7&issue=2&ArticleId=3688&si=false
The 3CL-Pro (or M-Pro) is the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, acting as a homodimer, and is responsible for the cleavage of the large polyprotein 1ab transcript in proteins acting on viral growth and replication.
The 3CLPro has been one of the most studied SARS-CoV-2 proteins and the subject of therapeutic interventions, targeting its catalytic domain. A number of drug candidates have been reported, including some natural products.
In this greek study, the resarchers investigated in silico, through binding and molecular dynamics simulations, the natural product space for the identification of candidates of 3CL-Pro dimerization inhibitors.
They reported that fortunellin (acacetin 7-O-neohesperidoside), a natural flavonoid O-glycoside, is a potent inhibitor of 3CL-Pro dimerization. A search of the ZINC natural products database identified another 16 related molecules to fortunellin, including apilin and rhoifolin, with interesting pharmacological properties.
The researchers propose that fortunellin and its structural analogs might be the basis of novel pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements against SARS-CoV-2 induced COVID19 disease.
Numerous studies have showed that fortunellin has anti-inflammatory properties and also acts as an immunomodulator and also aids in tissue repair.
Although
fortunellin is found in other vegetables and fruits as well, it has a higher presence in Kum Quats along with its various related forms (numbering about 16 related molecular structure types.)
It is used in a variety of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurvedic formulations and even in certain Northern Thai traditional medicines.
Thailand Medical News has incorporated it into its new blend of patented Therapeutic Teas.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-therapeutic-teas- along with 22 other herbs that have been studied for efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes the deadly COVID-19 disease and a whole wide range of long term medical complications even after recovery.
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The Therapeutic Teas are to date one of the most potent formulation of natural herbs that have studies to support its efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirs while also being able to offer prophylatic protection and is able to cause epigenetic changes that are beneficial for the body's immune system.(we will be featuring each and every herb and its supporting studies in a series of articles under the headings: COVID-19 Herbs.)
For more on
COVID-19 Herbs, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
