An herbal antiviral drug can be “extremely effective” in treating coronavirus and could also help fight future pandemics, according to new research in the UK.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found that the broad-spectrum antigiral thapsigargin is not only very effective against COVID-19, but also against a common cold coronavirus called respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A, Eurekalert.org reported.
“While we are still in the early stages of researching this antiviral and its impact on how viruses such as COVID-19 can be treated, these findings are extremely significant,” said Professor Kin-Chow Chang, who led the study together. with his colleagues at the Agency for Animal and Plant Health, China Agricultural University and the Pirbright Institute.
The current pandemic underscores the need for effective antivirals to treat active infections, as well as vaccines, to prevent infection, he said.
“Given that future pandemics will be of animal origin, where they spread from animal to human and vice versa (from human to animal), a new generation of antivirals, such as thapsigargin, could play a role. key in the control and treatment of important viral infections in both humans and animals, ”Chang added.
The scientists found that the low-dose antiviral triggers an “extremely effective” immune response against the three major types of human respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
Thapsigargin, which has been tested in prostate cancer, is effective against viral infection when used before or during active infection, according to the study.
According to the study, it is able to prevent a virus from making new copies of itself in cells for at least 48 hours after a single 30-minute exposure.
Although more tests are clearly needed, current findings strongly indicate that thapsigargin and its derivatives are promising antiviral treatments against COVID-19 and the flu virus and have the potential to defend us against the next pandemic of disease X, Chang said.