AUTHOR: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD

CONTACT: soplab@outlook.kr

DATE: 2020.03.19

CONTENT:

 

 te Velthuis et al reported that Zn(2+) inhibits the replication of SARS coronaviruses in cell culture study. They found that the SARS-CoV RdRp elongation was inhibited and template binding reduced by Zn(2+).[1]

 

 Mocchegiani et al found that old people aged 60-65 years with specific IL-6 polymorphism (GG allele carriers; named C-) had a low level of zinc and the proinflammatory status of IL-6. With zinc supplementation, the inflammatory responses by IL-6 were ameliorated into the healthy condition.[2]

 

 Old people have a tendency to have an increased level of IL-6  associated with the aging process.[3]

 

 It has known that increased IL-6 production by Th2 cells and macrophages.[4]

 This Th2 shifting immunity is susceptible to viral infection. 

 

 About the immunity of COVID-19, Xu et al revealed Th2 immune skewness polarized by IL-6 and TGF-β, which is vulnerable to viral infection.[5]


 With a constellation of the above data, although there is no report about the relationship between zinc and novel coronaviral infection(COVID-19, Wuhan Coronaviral infection), the author thinks that zinc can be a supportive nutritional mineral for anti-viral immunity in COVID-19.

 

REFERENCE:

[1] te Velthuis AJ, van den Worm SH, Sims AC, Baric RS, Snijder EJ, van Hemert
MJ. Zn(2+) inhibits coronavirus and arterivirus RNA polymerase activity in vitro
and zinc ionophores block the replication of these viruses in cell culture. PLoS
Pathog. 2010 Nov 4;6(11):e1001176.

[2] Mocchegiani E, Romeo J, Malavolta M, Costarelli L, Giacconi R, Diaz LE,
Marcos A. Zinc: dietary intake and impact of supplementation on immune function in elderly. Age (Dordr). 2013 Jun;35(3):839-60. doi: 10.1007/s11357-011-9377-3.
Epub 2012 Jan 6. PMID: 22222917; PMCID: PMC3636409.

[3] Franceschi C. Inflammaging as a major characteristic of old people: can it be prevented or cured? Nutr Rev. 2007 Dec;65(12 Pt 2):S173-6.

[4] Mocchegiani E, Muzzioli M, Cipriano C, Giacconi R. Zinc, T-cell pathways, aging: role of metallothioneins. Mech Ageing Dev. 1998;106:183–204.

[5] Xu Z, Shi L, Wang Y, Zhang J, et al. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;S2213-2600(20)30076-X.

AUTHOR: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD (soplab@outlook.kr)

DATE: 2020.03.05

CONTENT:

 

About ethanol as a sterilizing agent

Kariwa et al(2006) reported a below fact:

 

  • 70% ethanol reduced viral infectivity below the detectable level.

 

 There can be a question about how ethanol inactivates viral particles. 

 

 About this, Toppozine et al(2012) reported the evidence for enhanced permeability in both fluid and gel phases of the phospholipid bilayers in the presence of ethanol molecules. 

 

 The outline of Coronaviruses is composed of envelope structure, which is composed of lipid bilayer. The permeability of this lipid can be increased by ethanol.


 For this reason, ethanol as a disinfectant for Coronaviruses can be useful.

 

  • REFERENCE: 

    1. Kariwa H, Fujii N, Takashima I. Inactivation of SARS coronavirus by means of povidone-iodine, physical conditions and chemical reagents. Dermatology. 2006;212 Suppl 1:119-23. doi: 10.1159/000089211. PMID: 16490989.Date: 2020.03.05

  • 2. Laura Toppozini, Clare Armstrong, Matthew A. Barrett, Songbo Zheng, Lindy Luo, Hirsh Nanda, Victoria Garcia Sakai, Maikel C. Rheinstadter. Partitioning of ethanol into lipid membrane and its effect on fluidity and permeability as seen by X-ray and neurtron scattering. Soft Matter, issue 47, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

Virus Natural product(s) evaluated Proposed mechanism(s)
Coronavirus

Saikosaponin (A, B2, C, D) against HCoV-22E9

Lycoris radiata and its active component

lycorine, Artemisia annua, Pyrrosia lingua, and Lindera aggregata against SARS-CoV

Phenolic compounds of Isatis indigotica against SARS-CoV

Amentoflavone isolated from Torreya nucifera against SARS-CoV

Myricetin and scutellarein against SARS-CoV

Houttuynia cordata water extract against SARS-CoV

Saikosaponin B2 inhibits viral attachment and penetration stages

Unclear

 

SARS-CoV 3CL protease inhibitor

 

SARS-CoV 3CL protease inhibitor

 

SARS-CoV helicase inhibitor

 

SARS-CoV 3CL protease inhibitor; viral polymerase inhibitor

 

 

Reference

Lin LT, Hsu WC, Lin CC. Antiviral Natural Products and Herbal Medicines. J Tradit Complement Med. 2014 Jan-Mar; 4(1):24-35

 

 

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