MUST READ! COVID-19 Supplements: Scientists Exploring Inhibitory Properties Of Uncaria Tomentosa (Cat's Claw) Against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Mpro
Source: COVID-19 Supplements Jul 19, 2020 4 years, 3 months, 4 weeks, 1 day, 3 hours, 33 minutes ago
COVID-19 Supplements: Researchers from Spain, Peru and Colombia have collaborated to conduct a series of studies on the herb called Uncaria Tomentosa or Cat's claw on its efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
In an initial study using computational silico molecular docking analysis, it was found that the certain phytochemicals in the herb could inhibit the protease MPro replication process in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
The research findings were published on a preprint server and are yet to have been peer-reviewed.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202006.0326/v1
The same team is also conducting an animal study soon after just completing vitro studies that showed efficacy using vero cells.( those results will be published soon.)
Cats Claw has been used in traditional South American medicine for centuries spanning countries like Peru, Colombia and Brazil and the vine like plant is found in abundance in the various forests there.
Traditionally, extracts prepared by roots and barks decoction have been used against several diseases, such as allergies, respiratory diseases including flu, arthritis, inflammations, rheumatism infections and cancer. It has also been used as an antiviral against certain diseases including Dengue.
Biochemists attribute the healing effect to the indole and oxindole alkaloids, polyphenols and terpenoids contained in the herb. With these predominantly toxic substances, the plant apparently protects itself from the attacks of the fungi, viruses and bacteria omnipresent in the humid tropical forest.However in humans, these substances have immunostimulating, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, mild anticoagulant and antihypertensive effects.
https://www.europeanscientist.com/en/features/the-cats-claw-a-miracle-cure-from-the-jungle/
The plant is said to possess antiviral and immunomodulating properties and has been used to treat Dengue in the past.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18279801/
The herb also has anti- inflammatory properties and also antioxidant properties while being protective to the heart.
file:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/applsci-10-02668-v2.pdf and
https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/life-science/nutrition-research/learning-center/plant-profiler/uncaria-tomentosa.html and
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S094471130470121X
In the initial study, the researchers carried out a multi-level computational study to evaluate the potential anti-viral properties of the components of the medicinal herb Uncaria tomentosa (Cat´s claw) focusing on the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 proteas
e Mpro or 3CLpro.
The in-silico approach starts with protein-ligand docking of 26 Cat’s claw key components followed by ligand pathway calculations, molecular dynamics simulations and MM-GBSA calculation of the free energy of binding for the best docked candidates.
The structural bioinformatics approaches led to the identification of three bioactive compounds of Uncaria tomentosa (Speciophylline, Cadambine and Proanthocyanidin B2) with potential therapeutic effects by strong interaction with 3CLpro. Additionally, in silico drug-likeness indices for these components were calculated and show good predicted therapeutic profiles of these phytochemicals.
The three main phytochemicals from Cat Claw ie Speciophylline, Cadambine and Proanthocyanidin B2, attracted the researchers attention because of their strong docking scores (-8.1, -8.6 and -9.2 kcal/mol, respectively). The potential inhibitory effects of those molecules were further analyzed by means of ligand pathway simulations (which show very low barriers for binding), molecular dynamics of the docked complexes (until convergence at aprox. 250ns) and MM-GBSA free energy binding energy calculations (with values range from ca. -50 kcal/mol to ca. -15 kcal/mol). Altogether, these results confirm that the three compounds, and more particularly the alkaloid ones, have good predicted inhibitory profiles. To further anticipate throughout computation the therapeutic behavior of ethanolic extract of Cat´s claw, several physicochemical and ADME-score indices were calculated based on these three active molecules and compared to standard ranges for 95% of marketed drugs. The returned values show optimal drug-like properties for Speciophylline, Cadambine and Proanthocyanidin B2.
From the research findings, the study team, suggest the potential effectiveness of Cat's claw as complementary and/or alternative medicine for COVID-19 treatment.
Thailand Medical News will be providing updates on the further research of the herb in animal studies and human trials in South America.
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Warning: Thailand Medical warns all readers to never try to treat one self with any drugs or herbs or supplements if you suspect you have COVID-19. Immediately report to heath authorities to get tested or go to the nearest hospital. Never try to self-prescribe or take any supplements without consulting a licensed doctor first as sometimes with wrong dosing or the presence of underlying medical conditions, or used in conjunction with other drugs, can result in adverse or fatal reactions.
