Tag Archives: antiviral

Study: Cardamom Seed Extract Enhances Production of Antiviral Proteins

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Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom) seed extract, notably its primary bioactive element, 1,8-cineole, has been highlighted in recent research for its potential as an antiviral agent by enhancing the production of antiviral proteins known as type I interferons.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom) seed. Image credit: Karina Panchenko.

Herbal remedies have long been utilized to address various health conditions, including viral infections.

Medicinal herbs and plants are abundant sources of bioactive substances and have been incorporated into antiviral products by pharmaceutical companies.

These substances interfere with different stages of various viruses’ life cycles and help modulate the body’s immune response to viral threats.

Recent research by Takeshi Kawahara and his team at Shinshu University suggests that cardamom seed extract might possess formidable antiviral properties.

“Even prior to the emergence of the recent coronavirus, we were investigating substances that could help prevent viral infections in daily life,” Dr. Kawahara stated.

“The pandemic has amplified public interest in the antiviral qualities of food, providing us more avenues to pursue this research.”

In earlier investigations, the researchers discovered that cardamom seed extract effectively prevented influenza virus infections.

The latest study involved conducting experiments on human lung cells, specifically A549 cells, treated with cardamom seed extract to simulate viral infection processes and better understand its effects on the production of antiviral molecules.

They found that cardamom seed extract, along with its key bioactive component, 1,8-cineole, activates intracellular nucleic acid sensors that recognize viral DNA and RNA.

These sensors trigger the production of various cytokines, which impact the virus at different phases of infection.

In this instance, treatment with cardamom seed extract or 1,8-cineole resulted in increased production of a specific type of cytokine known as type I interferon, which is crucial for the body’s defense against viral infections, facilitated by the intracellular nucleic acid sensors.

Given these findings, the researchers expressed significant interest in the potential therapeutic applications of their results.

“Traditionally, cardamom has been widely recognized as a medicinal spice, and based on our findings, we aspire to explore its use as an antiviral agent to combat various viral infections,” Dr. Kawahara noted.

“We hope this research sheds new light on the antiviral properties of foods and inspires further exploration of various food components that may aid in preventing viral infections in everyday life.”

These findings were published in the August 2025 issue of Foods.

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Abdullah Al Sufian Shuvo et al. 2025. Type I interferon-enhancing effect of cardamom seed extract via intracellular nucleic acid sensor regulation. Foods 14(15):2744; doi: 10.3390/Food14152744

Source: www.sci.news

One Antiviral Shot Offers Superior Protection Compared to Influenza Vaccines

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Influenza virus particles observed through an electron microscope, color enhanced

John G/Imago/Alamy

A promising long-term antiviral medication may offer protection against all strains of influenza, providing hope for the most vulnerable populations.

The flu results in the loss of thousands of lives annually, and the swift emergence of new variants poses a risk for future pandemics. Each year, scientists reformulate flu vaccines to correspond with the strains that are projected to be prevalent in the upcoming season. These vaccines prompt the immune system to generate antibodies that block the virus from infiltrating the cells.

Efforts are underway to develop a universal influenza vaccine capable of safeguarding individuals from all strains, yet these vaccines face challenges.

“Even if the first approved universal influenza vaccine is created, individuals exhibit varying immune responses, meaning not everyone will be effectively protected,” says Jeffrey Stein, CEO of Cidara. For instance, vaccines often show reduced efficacy in older adults or in those with compromised immune systems.

To tackle this issue, Stein and his team have developed a treatment known as CD388, which includes Zanamivir, an antiviral drug authorized for treating infections caused by all influenza variants that affect humans. Normally, Zanamivir is eliminated from the body within hours, but the research team has modified it to rapidly neutralize the invasive influenza virus. “It’s not part of the immune system,” Stein explains.

For testing, the team enrolled 5,000 participants aged 16-64 from the US and the UK at the beginning of the 2024 flu season. None of the participants were at elevated risk for flu-related complications or had received that year’s flu vaccine. They divided the participants into four approximately equal groups. Three groups received one injection of CD388 at low, moderate, or high doses, while the final group received a placebo.

About six months later, researchers assessed the number of individuals with symptomatic flu infections during the flu season, defined by the presence of influenza virus DNA in nasal swabs and flu-like symptoms such as cough and fever.

Thirty-three individuals in the placebo group reported symptomatic flu, whereas only eight participants in the high-dose CD388 group did, marking a risk reduction of around 76%. The moderate and low-dose groups saw a 61% and 58% decrease in risk of symptomatic infections, respectively. “All doses demonstrated significant protection against influenza illness,” states Nicole Dhabapana, Chief Medical Officer of Sidara. Side effects, such as injection site tenderness, were consistent across both the treatment and placebo groups.

The results indicate that CD388 may offer a more straightforward means of protecting individuals compared to vaccines. “[Unlike vaccines, it] does not need to match the circulating strain, and could be more effective during a ‘poor match’ year or for pandemic preparedness, especially if new flu strains, such as H5N1, transmit to humans,” remarks Pennyword from King’s College London. She adds that, based on previous data on Zanamivir, it is unlikely that influenza strains will develop resistance to it.

This approach is likely to be effective for older individuals and those known to have poor vaccination responses, including the immunocompromised. Davalpana mentions that the team plans to conduct tests on individuals aged 12 and older with compromised immune systems.

Instead of replacing vaccines, Stein suggests that the drug may work best in conjunction with them, although this has yet to be tested. Nevertheless, the findings are timely given the growing hesitance surrounding vaccinations. “We aim to bypass the controversy that unfortunately surrounds vaccines,” Stein remarks.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New study finds solid wood surfaces exhibit natural antiviral characteristics

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In a recent study, researchers from the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland examined the antiviral properties of different types of wood, including coniferous and deciduous trees, against coronaviruses and enteroviruses.

Shroff othersScots pine and Norway spruce were found to have excellent antiviral activity, especially against enveloped viruses, with onset within 10-15 minutes. In contrast, other hardwoods showed mixed efficacy, and oak showed effectiveness against enteroviruses. Image courtesy of Schroff. others., doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c02156.

Since ancient times, wood has played a vital role in tools, utilities, and construction.

The 20th century witnessed a depletion of wood resources, prompting the emergence of alternatives like plastics and metals for interior surfaces and fixtures.

A growing concern for sustainability and the unique qualities of wood has led to a resurgence in its use across various applications.

The 21st century has brought new health challenges, including viral outbreaks like SARS and COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of surface hygiene.

Viruses can persist on surfaces as fomites, with enveloped viruses having shorter survival times compared to non-enveloped viruses.

Wood has been known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, but its antiviral capabilities were not thoroughly explored until this study.

Researchers investigated how different types of wood affect the infectivity of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.

The study found that certain types of wood could significantly reduce viral infectivity within hours, showcasing their potential as natural antiviral materials.

Their research paper was published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

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Reference: Sailey Shroff et al. (2024). Inactivation of coronaviruses and enteroviruses on solid wood surfaces depending on wood species. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 16(23), 29621-29633. doi:10.1021/acsami.4c02156

Source: www.sci.news

Breakthrough in New Coronavirus Treatment: Discovery of New Antiviral Drug

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The Coronavirus Moonshot Consortium report focuses on the discovery of a new class of inhibitors against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. This global collaboration has generated promising lead compounds, openly shared thousands of compound designs, and represents significant progress in coronavirus drug development.

The COVID Moonshot breakthrough study introduced new non-peptide inhibitors. SARS-CoV-2showcases global collaboration and open science in advancing coronavirus treatments. Although the group’s results have been freely available since its founding in March 2020, the Coronavirus Moonshot Consortium has finally officially reported its results.

Coronavirus Moonshot – An open science, crowdsourced, patent-free drug discovery campaign targeting SARS-CoV-2 virus – A wealth of data has been obtained about the virus’s major proteases, including insights that may pave the way for the development of new and better treatments. “The main treatments described by [these researchers] “Given drug approval timelines and challenges, we may not be ready in time to make an impact on the current pandemic,” write Brian Shoichet and Charles Craik in a related perspective. “Yet, the compounds and the techniques used to identify them may have implications for human health in the future.”

Global cooperation and drug discovery efforts This novel collaboration involved more than 200 volunteer scientists from 47 academic and industrial organizations across 25 countries. “The coronavirus moonshot provides an example of open science drug discovery that could lead to advances in infectious disease drug discovery. This research area is of great public importance but chronically underfunded from the private sector. “There is a shortage,” Melissa et al. write. SARS-CoVB-2 main protease (Mpro) is an attractive target for antiviral drug development due to its important role in viral replication. Current SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors, such as those drawn from existing antiviral pipelines such as Paxlovid and Xocova, have shown clinical success. However, the use of these compounds remains relatively limited, and their peptidomimetics and covalent scaffolds pose problems for synthesis and administration.

Impact on innovative drug design and open science Hey, Bobby other. describe the discovery of a novel noncovalent and nonpeptidic inhibitor scaffold that is chemically distinct from current Mpro inhibitors. By leveraging a crowdsourcing approach combined with the expertise of hundreds of individuals around the world, Bobby other. We will explain the open science drug discovery campaign. machine learningutilize molecular simulations, and high-throughput structural biology and chemistry to assemble a detailed structural map of the major proteases of SARS-CoV-2 and their biochemical activities.

From over 18,000 compound designs generated by the COVID Moonshot Consortium, the authors identified several non-covalent, non-peptidomimetic compounds, including lead compounds with promising bioavailability, safety, and antiviral activity. identified sex inhibitors. All compound designs from the project are openly shared, building a rich, open, intellectual property-free knowledge base for future anti-coronavirus drug discovery.

Reference:
DOI: 10.1126/science.abo7201

Source: scitechdaily.com