The panacea found in vegetables fights 6 strains of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron and Delta-Life Health

A natural chemical in green vegetables, once known for its anti-cancer properties, can inhibit the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus almost as much as the antiviral drug Remdesivir.

A study just published in Communication Biology has shown that sulforaphane, a phytochemical with precursors abundant in broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts… has great potential in creating produce an antidote SARS-Cov-2 and other corona viruses.

In one experiment, the John Hopkins University School of Medicine team exposed cells to sulforaphane for 1-2 hours before being actively infected with SARS-CoV-2, and a virus that causes the common cold is HCoV-OC43.

Precursors of sulforaphane found in kale, cabbage, and broccoli (Illustration from the Internet)

According to Medical Xpress, the authors found that a microscopic concentration of 2.4 M sulforaphane was also enough to reduce the replication of 6 strains of SARS-CoV-2 by 50%, including Omicron and Delta, as well as requiring 31 µM. to reduce HCoV-OC43 replication by 50%.

The authors also examined its effects when combined with the antiviral drug remdesivir. Remdesivir itself also inhibited 50% of replication of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43 at doses of 4 M and 22 µM, respectively.

If these two agents are used together, only 1.6 µM sulforaphane and 0.5 µM Remdesivir are needed, respectively, to reduce the viral burden on cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 by 50%. For HCoV-OC43, the required dose is 3.2 µM sulforaphane combined with 3.2 µM Remdesivir. That is, the dosage of both is much lower to reach the same effect.

In a mouse experiment, giving each animal 30 mg of sulforaphane per kg of body weight significantly reduced disease weight loss (7.5%), reduced viral load in the lungs by 17% and in the respiratory tract. greater than 9%, reducing the risk of lung injury by 29% in strains with a risk of lung injury.

At the same time, sulforaphane also helps reduce inflammation in the lungs, protecting cells from an excessive immune response, which is one of the factors that promotes death in Covid-19 patients.

“If further clinical trials continue to be successful, this will be good news because this plant-based substance is easy to find, commercially available, inexpensive and safe,” said Associate Professor Lori. Jones-Brando from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, lead author of the study.