Can Compounds in Green Tea Treat Covid-19?

Highlights

A biochemical link has been identified between Covid-19, diabetes and aging
Compounds present in green tea can help treat not only diabetes and aging, but also Covid-19
Drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity can also be used to treat Covid-19

Yes, compounds present in green tea can help treat Covid-19. Also, a link between Covid-19, diabetes and aging has been identified by a team of scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal.//

The review, published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, presented that existing drugs used to treat diabetes, obesity and aging can potentially be used to treat Covid-19. Similar naturally existing biomolecules were also explored in combination for the Covid treatment.

Can Green Tea Help Fight Covid-19?
Green tea can help fight against Covid-19 and could give rise to a drug capable of tackling Covid-19. Gallocatechin, which is present in green tea and could be readily available, accessible, and affordable.

‘Natural compounds such as polyphenols, may affect the binding of the virus to host receptors, thereby stopping the Covid-19 infection in its early stages.’

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"There are classes of compounds such as polyphenols found in plant-based food, curcumin (found in turmeric), and resveratrol (found in grapes), have been shown to not only slow down the aging process, but also possess anti-viral properties," said Dr. Amjad Husain, Principal Scientist, and CEO of Innovation and Incubation Center for Entrepreneurship (IICE), IISER Bhopal, in a statement.

Some other polyphenols that the researchers have identified as being useful for both Covid-19 treatment and comorbidity conditions such as diabetes and aging may include catechins (present in green tea, cocoa and berries), procyanidins (found in apples, cinnamon and grape skin), and theaflavin (found in black tea).

The researchers also present evidence of some existing potential anti-aging drugs such as Rapamycin that can be explored for the Covid-19 treatment because of the common biochemical pathways associated with these diseases. Another such example is a drug Metformin , which is usually used to control blood sugar.

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.

The review showed that at the molecular level, there are intersecting pathways that are common to diabetes, aging, and Covid-19. All three conditions are associated with oxidative stress and lowering of the immune response and complications arising from them lead to the onset of numerous other diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, eye diseases, neuropathy (nerve diseases), and nephropathy (kidney problems).

The researchers believe that an ideal therapeutic candidate for Covid-19 should be able to target the pathways that are common to diabetes, aging and the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Can Drinking Green Tea and Coffee Lower Death Risk?
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.

Further, computational studies showed that lipids present in cell membranes play an important role in coronavirus infectivity.

Natural compounds such as polyphenols may affect the binding of the virus to host receptors and the molecular interactions required for virus replication and release, thereby stopping the infection in its early stages, the team explained.

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.

Source-IANS