Can Green Tea Help Fight Covid-19?
Coronavirus pandemic continues to cause havoc in India and a team of researchers studied how green tea could give rise to a drug capable of tackling Covid-19. The initial findings suggested that one of the compounds in green tea could combat the coronavirus behind Covid-19, said lead author Suresh Mohankumar, who researched during his time at JSS College of Pharmacy in Ooty before taking up his current role at Swansea University Medical School. "Nature's oldest pharmacy has always been a treasure of potential novel drugs and we questioned if any of these compounds could assist us in battling the Covid-19 pandemic?" said Mohankumar. Gallocatechin compound, which is present in green tea, helps fight against Covid-19 and could be readily available, accessible, and affordable.  "We screened and sorted a library of natural compounds already know to be active against other coronaviruses using an artificial intelligence-aided computer program," he added. Mohankumar emphasized that the research was still in its early days and a long way from any kind of clinical application, in the study published in the journal RSC Advances. "The compound that our model predicts to be most active is gallocatechin, which is present in green tea and could be readily available, accessible, and affordable," the researcher said. There now needs to be further investigation to show if it can be proven clinically effective and safe for preventing or treating Covid-19. "This is fascinating research and demonstrates that natural products remain an important source of lead compounds in the fight against infectious diseases," said Andrew Morris, Professor, Swansea University. "I am also really pleased to see this international research collaboration continuing now that Mohankumar has joined the Pharmacy team," Morris added. Source: IANS he added.Mohankumar emphasized that the research was still in its early days and a long way from any kind of clinical application, in the study published in the journalthe researcher said.There now needs to be further investigation to show if it can be proven clinically effective and safe for preventing or treating Covid-19.said Andrew Morris, Professor, Swansea University.Morris added.Source: IANS said Mohankumar. Recommended Reading Grapes, Dark Chocolate and Green Tea Inhibit Coronavirus Enzyme Chemical compounds present in chocolate, grapes and green tea inhibit coronavirus enzyme called main protease enzyme (Mpro). Researchers found that cocoa powder and dark chocolate can reduce Mpro activity to half of the original. Drinking 4 or more daily cups of green tea plus 2 or more of coffee was linked to a 63% lower risk of death over a period of around 5 years. READ MORE Green Tea may Prevent Amyloidosis in Patients With Bone Marrow Disorders Green tea contains a compound called epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCG), which prevents the build-up of protein in patients with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. READ MORE Green Tea Prevents Damage Of Kidney Caused By Cancer Drug Green Tea can prevent kidney damage caused by cisplatin. Cisplatin leads to kidney damage in almost 30% patients. READ MORE Caffeine and Decaffeination Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant alkaloid commonly found in many of the products we consume daily. Excess intake of caffeine can lead to symptoms similar to substance addiction. READ MORE Chinese Green Tea Green tea is the least processed variant of tea. Tea is a beverage made from the processed leaves of Camellia sinensis (Family- Theaceae). READ MORE Essential Foods for a Healthy Detox Detoxification is an essential mechanism to keep your body healthy. Read on to know more about the best detox foods. READ MORE Figure Foods There are foods researched by nutrition science which exert effects in such a way that the body is pushed towards a fat-loss mode. READ MORE Food Combinations that Affect Your Well-Being Combining the foods to give you the optimum nutritional value is the key to healthy eating. READ MORE Health Benefits of Collard Greens Collard greens, the Brassica family vegetable is packed with nutrients and excellent health benefits. They are an excellent source of vitamin A, C, K, calcium, iron, and magnesium. READ MORE Health Benefits of Kombucha Tea Kombucha tea is a fermented beverage that provides an array of health benefits. Know how to prepare and store kombucha tea and discover its side-effects. READ MORE Peppermint Tea Peppermint tea sipped at bedtime can be relaxing, makes you feel refreshed and energetic when you drink it in the morning. Peppermint herb has a number of health benefits. Read the article to find out more about peppermint tea. READ MORE Watery Eyes Excess tearing may cause a sensation of watery eyes or result in tears falling down the cheek. Obstruction of tear drainage path can lead to stasis and is also a reason for watery eyes. READ MORE