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The coronavirus is rampant, with 1,634 deaths in Hungary and 1,175,684 in the world. As both the number of infected and the number of deaths increase, research on vaccine development has also changed speed. Although there is no effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 yet, there are promising dietary supplements to support the immune system, and scientists believe that active ingredients from plants, such as Mediterranean rhubarb The research can also help identify potentially useful treatments for coronaviruses.
According to researchers at the Charité University of Medicine in Berlin, plant-derived polyphenols, including the essence of the Mediterranean elderflower, also have a number of therapeutic and health effects:
- antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
- cell killing and antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral (cytotoxic and fungicidal, as well as antibacterial, antiviral),
- smooth muscle spasm reliever, antihypertensive,
- antiulcer, antiproliferative.
What do we know about Mediterranean rhubarb?
Native to the Mediterranean, Mediterranean rhubarb belongs to the Suhar family and has long been used by locals as an ornamental and medicinal plant. From a medical point of view, most Cistus incanus (ash – leaf swamp) and Cistus creticus (Cretan Suhr) were important, already known at the time of the 2009 H1N1 epidemic: they have been shown to be effective in the treatment of respiratory complaints and colds.
Research on the Cistus species was mainly carried out by a German company with an extract from the leaves of Cistus incanus, marked CYSTUS052. The essence is extremely rich in polyphenols, and the therapeutic and health effects observed are also more related to these compounds.
However, of the many beneficial effects, antiviral activity is the most interesting.
Antiviral effect in animals
In the course of their investigations, the German research team discovered that
CYSTUS052 extract inhibits the growth of influenza virus in animals.
However, the antiviral effect only occurred when the active substance was sprayed into the respiratory tract: it no longer provided any help with the oral product. The most spectacular antiviral effect was achieved by the researchers in the preventive application of the extract:
treatment at the same time or after infection no longer produced significant anti-pathogenic results.
Antiviral effect in humans
The Cistus incanus extract was also tested in humans in 2009, and researchers in Berlin found that patients with viral respiratory infections who took the tablet containing the extract had a greater reduction in disease-related symptoms than members of the group. placebo (not placebo).
Scientists have also found that Cistus extract is also extremely effective in influenza A and B infections.
The Berlin team concluded that the plant essence can significantly inhibit virus penetration (entry into a cell) and replication (multiplication), with a general immunostimulatory effect.
It is important to emphasize, however, that its clinical application still requires the demonstration of a large number of randomized trials, the plant group of drugs being used to strengthen the immune system.
effective in preventive use.
Featured Image: Illustration! Photo by Sergei Malgavko TASS via Getty Images
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