Influenza virus (IV) infections are a major threat to our health worldwide. Currently, anti-viral therapy includes vaccines and a few anti-viral drugs.
However vaccines are not always available in time, as demonstrated by the emergence of the new H1N1-type pandemic strain of swine origin in 2009 and the acquisition of resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors such as Tamiflu® is a potential problem.
Numerous studies have shown that a herb called Echinacea can enhance our immune system. It can fight against multiple influenza viruses including H5N1 and swine flu, inhibit herpes simplex virus and upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, it can inhibit the growth of tumor cells and so can be used for cancer patients. And it is anti-inflammatory with anti-anxiety effect.
However vaccines are not always available in time, as demonstrated by the emergence of the new H1N1-type pandemic strain of swine origin in 2009 and the acquisition of resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors such as Tamiflu® is a potential problem.
Numerous studies have shown that a herb called Echinacea can enhance our immune system. It can fight against multiple influenza viruses including H5N1 and swine flu, inhibit herpes simplex virus and upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, it can inhibit the growth of tumor cells and so can be used for cancer patients. And it is anti-inflammatory with anti-anxiety effect.
According to a study published in the Virology
Journal (Volume 6), the exact
of Echinacea, used at the recommended dose for oral consumption, has potent anti-viral activity against all the IV
strains tested, including H3N2, H1N1, H5N1 and H7N7.
Concentrations ranging from 1.6 mg/ml, the recommended
dose for oral consumption, to as little as 1.6 μg/ml of the extract (a 1:1000 dilution), could inactivate more than 99% of virus infectivity. The treated virus gave rise to markedly reduced yields of
virus in cell culture. In addition, the lack of
emergence of resistant viruses during sequential passage is a significant
advantage over Tamiflu®, which under similar culture conditions
readily allowed resistant virus strains to develop. The extract inhibited the receptor binding activity of the virus,
suggesting that the extract interferes with the viral entry into cells.
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