Resveratrol is produced by plants to ward off pathogens
Researchers from the UMCG in Groningen have showed that the chemical Resveratrol has an inhibitory effect on the growth of the Coronavirus, reports UMCG Kennis Inzicht. Resveratrol is produced by plants when they are being attacked by pathogens, and is found in very small quantities in red wine, peanut butter, and chocolate. It is available as a dietary supplement, and has been previously studied for its therapeutic qualities, though without huge supporting evidence.
The DVHN is now reporting that following the UMCG’s research, there has been a run on the substance online, with large Dutch drugstores such as Kruidvat, Trekpleister and Etos running out of stock.
Earlier this year the substance also spiked in popularity following an interview on the Dutch TV show Jinek with Peter van der Voort, the head of intensive care at the UMCG.
‘Virus production inhibited by 99 percent’
Experimental Virologist Jolanda Smit and Lung Biologist Martijn Nawijn looked into how virus production was affected by Resveratrol and the related chemical Pterostilbene. They found that production was inhibited by 99 percent- and then decided to test if the same effect happened in human lung cells. After harvesting cells from healthy volunteers, “there too we saw a very strong inhibition of virus production”, says Smit in UMCG Kennis Inzicht.
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