Supplements For Coronavirus: Dutch Vitro Study Shows That Resveratrol and Pterostilbene Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus
Source: Supplements For Coronavirus Sep 29, 2020 4 years, 1 month, 2 weeks, 1 day, 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
Supplements For Coronavirus: Researchers University of Groningen - Netherlands, in a new vitro research have demonstrated that the phytochemicals resveratrol and pterostilbene, have long-lasting antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Both resveratrol and pterostilbene are natural plant compound found in grapes, small berries and certain nuts.
The study findings are published on a preprint server and are currently undergoing peer review.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.24.285940v1
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus since its debut in late December 2019 in China, has been showing an unstoppable transmission trajectory worldwide. Although continuous efforts are being made in the search for effective therapeutics or vaccines, there is still a long way to go before finding a solution to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Studies have shown that the severe form of COVID-19 is known to be associated with severe lung inflammation induced by both viral infection and antiviral host immune responses.
To date several phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, such as resveratrol, have been shown to have potent antiviral effects against a wide variety of pathogens, including the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza virus, and respiratory syncytium virus.
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-017-2253-8
and
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163725820301431
and
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijcp.13535
Previous computational molecular docking studies with the SARS-CoV-2 genome showed that Stilbene-based natural compounds such as resveratrol and pterostilbene are promising drug candidates.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07391102.2020.1762743
and
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-22839/v1
and
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7480644/
In terms of the mode of action, resveratrol has been shown to inhibit the viral replication cycle directly.
Based on the potential antiviral properties of resveratrol, the current study has been undertaken to evaluate the effect of resveratrol and its structural analog, pterostilbene, in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The study used different types of cells, including monkey kidney cells, human lung epithelial cells, and human primary bronchial epithelial cells, to investigate whether resveratrol and pterostilbene can inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.
The study team initially determined the dose-dependent cytotoxici
ty of resveratrol and pterostilbene. Based on these findings, they decided to use 150 µM of resveratrol and 60 µM of pterostilbene as the highest experimental doses to continue all subsequent experiments.
In order to induce infection, monkey kidney cells were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 and simultaneously treated with resveratrol and pterostilbene.
The study team found that both resveratrol and pterostilbene reduced the production of the viral particle in a dose-dependent manner. Compared to resveratrol, pterostilbene was found to be a more potent antiviral agent, which reduced the viral progeny even at lower doses.
However both the compounds showed strong antiviral effects for a prolonged period of time.
In order to determine the mode of action of resveratrol and pterostilbene, they performed a time-of-drug-addition experiment wherein they administered the compounds before, during, and after the viral inoculation.
Interestingly, no effect on viral particle production was observed when the compounds were added before creating the infection.
A mild effect was observed when the compounds were added during the infection. Importantly, a significant reduction in viral particle production was observed when the compounds were added after creating the infection.
No effect was observed when the compounds were added at a time point representing viral assembly and release of the virion. These observations indicate that the antiviral effects of both resveratrol and pterostilbene are more prominent at a time point between the viral entry and release of the virion, meaning that the compounds primarily work by inhibiting the viral replication cycle.
Despite both resveratrol and pterostilbene failing to show any significant antiviral effect on human lung epithelial cells, a potent, long-lasting antiviral effect of resveratrol and pterostilbene was observed against SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully differentiated human primary bronchial epithelial cells.
It should also be noted that recently Japanese researchers have discovered the use of pterostilbene to treat various inflammatory disorders including IBD due to its extraordinary anti-inflammatory capabilities.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/pterostilbene-a-polyphenolic-phytochemical-identified-by-japanese-researchers-as-a-new-therapeutic-for-chronic-inflammatory-disorders-like-ibd
The study team is next planning vivo studies involving animal models and also observational studies in human patients infected with COVID-19 disease. As both resveratrol and pterostilbene are natural plant compounds that are already approved for use as dietary supplements, previous safety studies have already been conducted on their use.
Both resveratrol and pterostilbene are also used in the TMN Complex found in Thailand’s Medical News’ Therapeutic Teas. For more details on these patented blends of herbs and teas, refer to the links:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-therapeutic-teas-
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/thailand-medical-news-launches-special-therapeutic-herbal-tea-package-for-american-readers-only-to-prepare-for-the-coming-second-wave
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-covid-19-herbs-world-health-organization-who-endorses-testing-traditional-herbal-medicines-against-sars-cov-2-coronavirus
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