The News
A substance present in broccoli and other vegetables could be a “promising” way to prevent and treat COVID-19. After modest doses of the substance were discovered to suppress SARS-CoV-2 growth in mammalian cells and mice, experts warn more investigation is needed. Sulforaphane, a plant-derived chemical or phytochemical found in broccoli and other cruciferous plants, has been found to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, as well as some common cold coronaviruses, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Md. The findings, which were published in the Nature journal Communications Biology on March 18, also showed promise when even lower doses of sulforaphane were combined with remdesivir, an antiviral medicine used to treat certain COVID-19 patients who were hospitalised. We would like to draw your attention on Broccoli slows COVID-19 Virus Effect in this article.
Sulforaphane may help prevent and treat infections caused by some coronaviruses, including COVID-19, according to a study performed by the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in mice and lab-grown cells.
Facts regarding the effects of Broccoli found by the researchers
Broccoli, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts are high in sulforaphane’s natural precursor. Natural sulforaphane is derived from ordinary food sources such as broccoli seeds, sprouts, and mature plants, as well as infusions of sprouts or seeds for drinking, and was first recognised as a “chemopreventive” ingredient by a team of Johns Hopkins scientists decades ago. Sulforaphane has been demonstrated in previous research, particularly those at Johns Hopkins Medicine, to have anti-cancer and anti-infection capabilities by interfering with key cellular processes.
The effect of Broccoli on Covid-19 patients
“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, our multidisciplinary research teams shifted their investigations of other viruses and bacteria to focus on a potential treatment for what was then a difficult new virus for us,” says Lori Jones-Brando, Ph.D., a microbiologist at the Children’s Center and senior author of the paper. “I was testing a number of chemicals for anti-coronavirus action when I came across sulforaphane, which has demonstrated some activity against other microbial agents that we research.” In their experiments, the researchers used purified, synthetic sulforaphane obtained from commercial chemical suppliers.
Facts that are found in the research recently
The researchers employed commercially available purified synthetic sulforaphane and exposed it to cells for one to two hours before infecting them with SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43, a common cold coronavirus. Low micromolar quantities of sulforaphane, ranging from 2.4 to 31 micromolar, were observed to suppress the reproduction of six strains of SARS-CoV-2, including the Delta and Omicron variants, as well as the common cold coronavirus, by half. Similar findings were found in cells that had previously been infected with the viruses. The number of moles of solute per litre of solution is known as molar concentration. A micromolar is one-millionth the concentration of a mole, which is a unit of measurement for tiny particles such as atoms.
The researchers also tested male mice and discovered that feeding them 30 milligrammes of sulforaphane per kilogramme of body weight before infecting them with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in 7.5 percent less weight loss than infected, untreated mice. Pre-treated animals had a 17 percent reduction in viral load in the lungs and a nine percent reduction in viral load in the upper respiratory tract when compared to mice who were not administered sulforaphane. Lung injury decreased by 29%, and lung inflammation, which has been linked to COVID-19 death, was reduced.
Read: Coronavirus: 5 Budgeted Countries to visit after Covid19 Outbreak in 2022
Read Also: When and Why You Should Stop Taking Vitamin D Supplements?
Conclusion by the study
“We discovered that sulforaphane is antiviral against the coronaviruses HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2, as well as aiding to modulate the immune response,” Ordonez explains. “It’s an interesting molecule to utilise against these viral infections, as well as those caused by other human coronaviruses, because of its multifunctional activity.”
-Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children’s Centre in Baltimore
FAQs
- Can I get COVID-19 more than once?
Yes, you would be protected from a second infection at first, but if your antibody levels drop rapidly as a result of the illness, you may not have enough antibodies to prevent a second infection.” In other words, you may not be eligible for a free pass for the next 90 days.
- In what conditions does COVID-19 survive the longest?
When exposed to UV radiation in sunlight, coronaviruses die swiftly. SARS-CoV-2, like other encapsulated viruses, thrives at room temperature or lower temperatures, as well as low relative humidity (less than 50%).
- Can COVID-19 be transmitted through food?
There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be contracted through food. COVID-19 is a virus that can be killed at temperatures comparable to those used to kill other viruses and germs found in food.
- What are some of the ways to prevent COVID-19?
Know the facts and take the necessary actions to protect yourself and others. Follow the recommendations of your local health authorities.
