Glycyrrhizin (Licorice) appears to be more effective during the early stages of coronavirus replication.

(AP Photo/Patrick Sison)

PREMIUM HEALTH NEWS

Studies Find Natural Treatments for

Coronavirus
By Sophia Ruiz January 17, 2022
Updated: January 17, 2022

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Contrary to what mass mainstream media would have you assume, coronaviruses aren’t uncharted territory.
In fact, human coronaviruses are responsible for 15-30% of common colds each year. More severe cases of
coronavirus infections were observed during outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and
Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS), two coronavirus infections that led to pneumonia in some
individuals who were infected.

These outbreaks sparked interest from the complementary medicine community who began investigating
natural solutions for treating SARS and MERS infections, the studies of which have been compiled in our
comprehensive database on Coronavirus Infection and Coronavirus Disease.

These natural substances demonstrating viral inhibition of SARS-coronavirus are likely also effective against
the 2019 coronavirus, considering the two are closely related and share the same angiotensin-converting
enzyme II-mediated infection. In other words, SARS-coronavirus and the 2019 novel coronavirus are both
structurally and mechanistically similar and can be targeted by the same substances.
In fact, one paper published in the Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine states that the 2019 novel
coronavirus is actually less pathogenic than the SARS-coronavirus, suggesting that these natural substances
may be even more effective in their coronavirus-inhibiting properties.

Blueberries and strawberries contain plenty of flavonoids. (Jupiterimages/Photos.com)

These naturally-occurring, whole food-derived substances with proven coronavirus-inhibiting properties

are discussed below:

Licorice root. Glycyrrhizin, an active constituent of licorice roots, has been shown to exhibit potent
inhibitory activity against SARS-coronavirus replication. Additionally, glycyrrhizin appears to be more
effective during the early stages of coronavirus replication.
Flavonoids. The activity of coronavirus proteases is a key factor in coronaviruses’ ability to propagate in
cells. Flavonoids, however, directly inhibit coronavirus protease activity, resulting in decreased virus
propagation (4). The flavonoids with the highest virus inhibitory power appear to be herbacetin,
isobavachalcone, quercetin 3‐β‐d‐glucoside, and helichrysetin.
Chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata). In one animal study, Chameleon plant aqueous extract
demonstrated significant antiviral activity against the SARS-coronavirus in vivo. The study also found that
the herb stimulated the proliferation of mouse splenic lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner,
suggesting it also functions as an immunomodulatory plant.
Chinese medicine preparations. Chinese medicine has been frequently used as an adjunct therapy to treat
SARS patients, as evidenced by a Cochrane systematic review that concluded Chinese Medicine as an
adjunct therapy “may improve symptoms, quality of life and absorption of pulmonary infiltration, and
decrease the corticosteroid dosage for SARS patients”. Another study has also proposed ShuFengJieDu
Capsules and Lianhuaqingwen Capsule as a potentially effective treatment for 2019 novel coronavirus,
considering previous studies demonstrating their ability to both treat and prevent respiratory infectious
viruses.
This article was originally published on GreenMedInfo.com

References

1. Mesel-Lemoine, M., Millet, J., Vidalain, P. O., Law, H., Vabret, A., Lorin, V., Escriou, N., Albert, M. L., Nal,
B., & Tangy, F. (2012). A human coronavirus responsible for the common cold massively kills dendritic cells
but not monocytes. Journal of virology, 86(14), 7577-7587. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00269-12

2. Tian H. Y. (2020). Zhonghua yu fang yi xue za zhi [Chinese journal of preventive medicine], 54(0), E001.
Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-9624.2020.0001

3. Cinatl, J., Morgenstern, B., Bauer, G., Chandra, P., Rabenau, H., & Doerr, H. W. (2003). Glycyrrhizin, an
active component of liquorice roots, and replication of SARS-associated coronavirus. Lancet (London,
England), 361(9374), 2045-2046. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(03)13615-x

4. Jo, S., Kim, H., Kim, S., Shin, D. H., & Kim, M. S. (2019). Characteristics of flavonoids as potent MERS-CoV
3C-like protease inhibitors. Chemical biology & drug design, 94(6), 2023-
2030. https://doi.org/10.1111/cbdd.13604

5. Lau, K. M., Lee, K. M., Koon, C. M., Cheung, C. S., Lau, C. P., Ho, H. M., Lee, M. Y., Au, S. W., Cheng, C. H.,
Lau, C. B., Tsui, S. K., Wan, D. C., Waye, M. M., Wong, K. B., Wong, C. K., Lam, C. W., Leung, P. C., & Fung, K.
P. (2008). Immunomodulatory and anti-SARS activities of Houttuynia cordata. Journal of
ethnopharmacology, 118(1), 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.03.018

6. Liu, X., Zhang, M., He, L., & Li, Y. (2012). Chinese herbs combined with Western medicine for severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS). The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 10(10),
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7. Lu H. (2020). Drug treatment options for the 2019-new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).  Bioscience trends,
10.5582/bst.2020.01020. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.5582/bst.2020.01020