Preventing COVID-19 Replication Naturally
We’ve been in the battle against COVID-19 for what seems like forever at this point. We had hoped there would be a cure by now or some more control over it. Since it’s been going on for so long, it feels like something we have to learn to live with like the seasonal flu.
As COVID-19 sticks around, scientists are working hard to figure out how we can best control this virus. Each day they’re closer and closer to a solution.
While maintaining healthy lifestyle practices can help us, medical professionals aren’t stopping their search to find a cure. Scientists are now looking at how to control the factors of COVID-19 replication.
Why Replication is Important in COVID-19
If you remember back to grade school when you learned about DNA, this is where that information comes into play. Viruses like COVID-19 are RNA strands. This means that they’re only half of the DNA ladder so they need the other half to plug into so they can do what they’re meant to do.
It’s essential for these RNA strands to have that other half so they’re able to replicate. RNA viruses have a higher mutation rate which makes it difficult to get under control. The mutations make them change at a rapid pace so once a cure is figured out there is a high chance it may not work since the virus itself may have changed by that point. This is part of the main reason that a cure for COVID-19 has not been found yet.
Stopping replication stops this entire process from happening — making it the most important factor for scientists to study. When it comes to COVID-19, the main protease (M-PRO) is the target to inhibit.
What is M-PRO?
Proteases are structures that regulate proteins throughout your body. They can have positive or negative effects. There are some that are extremely beneficial and others that can do a lot of damage like COVID-19’s M-PRO.
Proteases have many jobs including affecting DNA replication, ovulation, fertilization, wound repair, neurogenesis, inflammation, immunity, necrosis, apoptosis, among others.
Regarding COVID-19, M-PRO allows for the virus to make its connections to begin the replication process. Once this starts, it’s a fast-paced event and is exactly why the virus turned into a global pandemic so quickly.
By controlling this particular protease, we are able to slow down or prevent reproduction. That means the virus can no longer bind to your cells to set up a virus factory within your body.
How Do You Control M-PRO?
Since it’s such an important part of the transcription and replication of the coronavirus, controlling M-PRO is one of the most vital areas to start. There are pharmaceuticals that have been created with previous virus proteases.
Medications for treatment and vaccinations are a possibility when studying these enzymes. By inhibiting them we are shutting down the first phase of the virus taking hold on our bodies, which means little to no effects or damage.
One of the most promising protease inhibitors is called N3. N3 helps with both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV which are the other two coronaviruses that have affected humans. The struggle with finding the proper inhibitor for SARS-CoV2 is the size of the inhibiting enzyme. N3 seems to be helpful in fighting this strain of coronavirus but in a time-dependent manner.
This is the first step in figuring out an antiviral medication in the fight against coronaviruses in general, but especially the current strain plaguing us. Unfortunately, since this is a time-dependent solution, it cannot be used as a cure-all. The other problem is that once an antiviral medication is formed there are possible side effects and dangerous interactions with other medications patients are currently taking.
However, there are some natural options that you can look to as you prepare your body for flu season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natural Solutions to Control COVID-19 Through M-PRO
While medications do have their place, we did create Atrantil to be natural for a reason. That is because they work synergistically with our bodies better than the chemicals used in medications.
Natural options look at our bodies as a whole when it comes to dysfunction rather than just the symptoms. Natural-based solutions get to the root cause of a problem typically better than medications that mask our body’s cries for help.
While there is controversy on natural medications efficiency, we go based on medical studies that have been proven to help. Even though COVID-19 is still a fairly new virus to affect humans, there are studies proving that they can work to inhibit M-PRO and stop COVID-19 from reproducing and spreading.
Green Tea
Green tea seems to be in most of our articles, but it’s for good reason. Green tea is packed with polyphenols and incredible immune-boosting properties. A study showed that 3 of the main polyphenols in green tea were effective with inhibiting M-PRO. The polyphenols that were helpful are epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and gallocatechin-3-gallate.
Brown Algae
In a study of 17 possible COVID-19 fighting natural options, brown algae were found to be the most effective. There are several different types of brown algae and it seems that Sergassum spinuligerum and Ecklonia cava are the top two.
Paper Mulberry
While it isn’t the strongest on the list for M-PRO specifically, paper mulberry is another natural option. It inhibits another protease that works similarly to M-PRO. So while it may not be the first defense, paper mulberry could help to strengthen M-PRO targeting choices.
Flavonoid-Rich Foods
Brown algae fit into this group of superfoods. Foods that are high in flavonoids include berries, citrus fruits, and legumes. Nelfinavir is an antiviral drug used for HIV which is being studied for use against COVID-19. A study found that there were 7 different flavonoid phytochemicals that were more effective in fighting COVID-19 than this antiviral drug.
The fight against COVID-19 is far from over, but we are making headway with all of these studies on how to best protect ourselves against it. Preventing COVID-19 from getting a hold on our cells is our first line of defense. By eating healthy, polyphenol-rich foods, we are able to protect our bodies in this battle and rest a little easier.
Grab some green tea, some berries, and enjoy some sunlight. Natural polyphenols as well as supplements like Atrantil, which are packed full of beneficial polyphenols, are our best chance against this virus.
Share this article with some friends who are concerned about the virus to let them know there are solutions and ways to prepare for the flu season ahead. All of these options are good for both COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Knowledge and healthy food are power.
Enhancing and Protecting Your Immune System: Antiviral Properties of Polyphenols
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2576539/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2223-y
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7332865/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7392194/