{"id":99184,"date":"2020-03-26T18:39:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T01:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=99184"},"modified":"2021-11-03T02:07:17","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T09:07:17","slug":"resveratrol-fight-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/resveratrol-fight-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Resveratrol Help Fight Coronavirus?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most supplements that are talked about amid the coronavirus outbreak are either essential nutrients or immune boosters. So what does a polyphenol from red wine have to do with the current health crisis? Read on for some surprising new resveratrol research.<\/p>\n

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This article is for informational purposes only. The current coronavirus outbreak is an ongoing event and certain details may change as new information comes to light.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Resveratrol Research Amid the COVID-19 Health Crisis<\/span><\/h2>\n

A recent comment in the prestigious journal Nature<\/em> stresses how urgently we need medicines for the current coronavirus outbreak [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

But if you think that only immune-stimulants, antivirals, and essential nutrients are being researched against the new coronavirus, you\u2019re in for a surprise.<\/p>\n

Scientists behind the commentary list all potentially promising compounds that might either help kill the new virus or prompt our immune system to get rid of it. Resveratrol is easy to miss among a long list of antiviral drugs, but it\u2019s there [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

So what is an antioxidant from red wine and berries doing on a list of \u201cpotentially therapeutic options for coronavirus\u201d?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still too early to say, and there\u2019s no evidence that resveratrol can treat the new virus<\/strong>. Yet, scientists believe resveratrol is worth investigating in more detail. Earlier cell-based studies hint at its ability to fight MERS-CoV [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

To avoid confusion, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS\u2010CoV) was first identified in 2012. What we are dealing with right now is a pandemic of a very similar, but distinct virus named SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Since the 2019 coronavirus is extremely recent, we are still lacking robust studies on it. No effective or FDA-approved products are yet available.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The best preventive measures you can take against 2019-nCoV are those of standard care: stay at home, wash your hands, and avoid touching your face.<\/p>\n

There are still no proven treatments for coronavirus, but some scientists think resveratrol is worth investigating.<\/div><\/div>\n

Can Resveratrol Directly Fight Coronavirus?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Effects on Similar Viruses Like MERS & SARS<\/span><\/h3>\n

In one study, resveratrol prevented MERS-CoV infection in cells<\/strong>. It also helped infected cells live longer. This study earned resveratrol its place in the Nature<\/em> commentary [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

The MERS virus needs a kind of protein shell called nucleocapsid<\/em> to survive and spread. In the mentioned study, resveratrol reduced nucleocapsid production. Most coronaviruses have nucleocapsid shells, likely including the 2019 coronavirus strain [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Resveratrol also reduced caspase 3<\/a>, a sort of death signal cells send off. The less caspase 3, the less cells are dying from the virus [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In another cellular study, two synthetic compounds related to resveratrol blocked the replication of SARS-CoV<\/strong>. This is yet another coronavirus that emerged in 2003 and is similar to the strain behind the current outbreak [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Although promising, these studies are limited to cell-based experiments and other coronavirus strains. Until more research comes out, the effects of resveratrol on coronavirus remain unknown.<\/p>\n

Resveratrol seems to block some coronaviruses in cells, but no data are available on its ability to fight the strain behind the current outbreak in humans.<\/div><\/div>\n

Clues from Mongolia<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mongolian scientists recently came forth with an unusual idea: Agsirga<\/em>, a traditional Mongolian remedy, might hold some activity against the new coronavirus<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

As it turns out, Agsirga contains resveratrol<\/strong>, along with almost 100 other active compounds. Using a computer simulation, scientists screened the compounds to see which ones can block pathways the new coronavirus uses to infect cells and multiply.<\/p>\n

They revealed that a specific form of resveratrol (diglucoside) might stop coronavirus from binding to ACE2–the main passageway coronavirus uses to gain entry into cells.<\/p>\n

Although many people hear about it for the first time, Mongolian medicine is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. This study is just a starting point, and we can\u2019t draw much from it. Mongolian scientists are hoping that Agsirga and its active compounds will be researched further as potentially useful amid the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

A resveratrol-containing plant preparation called Agsirga is being investigated for preventing coronavirus from entering cells. Far more research is needed.<\/div><\/div>\n

Broader Anti-Viral Potential<\/span><\/h3>\n

Other cell-based and animal studies additionally hint at resveratrol\u2019s potential virus-fighting action. Resveratrol was active against:<\/p>\n