Are These Potent Inhibitors of Coronavirus in Your Kitchen Garden?
The Journal of Infectious Diseases reports that in a study of 569 patients with coronavirus, results suggest that mannose-binding lectin (MBL) contributes to the first-line host defense against SARS-CoV and that MBL deficiency is a susceptibility factor for infection.
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/191/10/1697/789682
Plants containing MBL (mannose-binding lectin):
Biomedical Central (BMC) Medicine reports that medicines will take one year or more to develop treatment for COVID 19 & that those which involve the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) include Remdesivir & Ribavirin, with related treatments being Lopinavir/Ritonavir. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339557471_QA_The_novel_coronavirus_outbreak_causing_COVID-19
Got time for more?
…a short review of the current literature uncovers…
Our present and future climate is changing. Combined with the effects of pollution & a rising population – respiratory diseases such as the “bird flu” & COVID-19 may become a seasonal occurrence (like the flu & common cold). While it is too early for studies to confirm these predictions, the European Respiratory Society is concerned [2], as viral respiratory tract infections are presently one of the most common illnesses (with six new viruses in recent years [3]).
A virus is a constantly evolving & cooperating ‘team’ which exists through host infection. The members of each virus ‘team’ are known as virion (i.e. a single virus particle) & are made of RNA or DNA. They replicate, by hi-jacking the reproductive process of a living cell [5].
The coronavirus is a family of RNA-viruses which infect vertebrates of Kingdom Animalia (including the human species), through the respiratory system [6]. Symptoms of infection are similar to the flu and can include fever, cough & shortness of breath (although no symptoms are also possible) [7].
Classification & origin:
The ‘International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses’ has identified the coronavirus disease COVID-19 to be caused by the virus: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Family: Coronaviridae
Sub-family: Orthocoronavirinae.
Genus: Betacoronavirus.
Species: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related coronavirus (-CoV).
Coronaviridae is a large family of 11 viruses which causes a range of illnesses, including the common cold. Originally found in bats, the current outbreak (which is a new strain), COVID-19 is transmitted through several animal hosts including cats & racoon dogs (particularly via the meat trade in China) [9].
COVID-19 is sister to SARS-CoV-1 (avian influenza virus or the bird flu) which was transmitted from civet cats causing an outbreak in 2002/2003. Another significant member of this family is the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) which was transmitted from dromedary camels to humans in 2012 [10], [11], [12], [13].
How immunity is generated:
COVID-19 is not lethal for 100% of patients – thus, it is possible to generate immunity. But how? To answer this, we need to know a little about how the immune system (& immunity) works.
In 1960, Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet (an Australian virologist) & Sir Peter Brian Medawar (a British biologist & author) won The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance” [14]. In layman’s terms, they found an inhibitor which prevents the influenza (flu) virus from being able to infect the respiratory system.
In 1978, the inhibitor was isolated as the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) protein – a key component of the immune system. It’s mechanism of action is via the lectin pathway, which initiates pattern-recognition (identification) at the cell-molecule interface [16]. When a virus (unwanted molecule) is identified, it is inactivated by breaking apart it’s encapsulating glycoproteins. This is how immunity to viruses develops, including – AIDS [17], Ebola [18] & SARS [19] (including COVID-19).
Unfortunately, not everyone develops immunity and genetic disposition [20] causes 5-30 people in every 100 to be deficient [21]. To manage the deficiency, or simply boost the immune system in times of stress, MBL needs to come from an outside source.
Life-giving proteins enter the body from an outside source daily, through food. And when plant lectins are ingested without heating above 38°C, they enter the cardiovascular system unchanged (with their bioactivity intact) [22]. This is fortunate, because it is into this system the liver secretes MBL (mannose-binding lectin) in those who produce it naturally [23]. Once in the blood, this vital protein undergoes distribution throughout the rest of the body thus, defending against infection.
ANTIVIRAL PLANTS HELP GENERATE IMMUNITY
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is found in most plants [24]. This is because plants also use it to defend against pathogen attack [25]. Edible plants which contain significant amounts of lectins – enough to inhibit the proliferation of COVID-19 and other viruses [26] include:
Plants or pharmaceuticals – which is the better option?
One option, is to consume edible plants which contain potent inhibitors to coronavirus while other treatments are being made available. Here is a short summary of work being done to produce such agents.
Biomedical Central (BMC) Medicine reports that medicines will take one year or more to develop treatment for COVID 19 & that those which involve the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) include Remdesivir & Ribavirin, with related treatments being Lopinavir/Ritonavir. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339557471_QA_The_novel_coronavirus_outbreak_causing_COVID-19
Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology Journal have reported that a seaweed containing lectins exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity against coronavirus & HIV. They have devised an efficient, scalable and cost-effective manufacturing process for the adoption of this as a drug in human antiviral therapy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6066545/
The Journal of Infectious Diseases reports that in a study of 569 patients with coronavirus, results suggest that MBL contributes to the first-line host defense against SARS-CoV and that MBL deficiency is a susceptibility factor for infection.
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/191/10/1697/789682
Antiviral Research Journal reports that in a study of the antiviral activity of plant lectins, the strongest anti-coronavirus activity was found predominantly among the mannose-binding lectins. Intervention was early in the replication cycle (most probably viral attachment) & at the end of the infectious virus cycle. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6399009_Plant_lectins_are_potent_inhibitors_of_coronaviruses_by_interfering_with_two_targets_in_the_viral_replication_cycle
Protect yourself, protect your people.
Permaculture teaches us to take responsibility for our own lives & to share what we learn with others in our community. This platform has been created & is used for this purpose. The author knows these plants as commonly available foods & has compiled this information for personal reference. It is shared with you as a fellow permaculturalist only.
* EARTH CARE * PEOPLE CARE * FAIR SHARE *
Dedicated to my parents.
Main image: Structural anatomy of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) showing how the virus targets lung cells [1].
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Ruth says:
Hi, just read your article with interest, especially that widely available plants like nettles could help with immunity to COVID-19. But you say it is best not heated over 38degrees. Usually I would have made tea but what would you recommend? and do you have any idea of dosage? I would like to share this info but don’t want people going and taking more than necessary so would be really helpful to know amounts suggested per person. Also of leek, jackfruit, wild garlic, elderberry. eg one palmful of any one of these daily?? Most of these could be eaten raw, for elderberry (at this time in UK would be dried) maybe make a vinegar? https://www.milkwood.net/2019/02/22/elderberry-everything-wine-vinegar-medicine-more/
Chrissy-Tiina Laurikainen says:
Hi, the suggested temperature range refers to:
1) A raw, living plant which contains the mannose-binding lectins.
2) A human body (37degC) which allows lectins to pass into the bloodstream with bioactivity still intact.
Unfortunately when I reviewed the literature (current at the time), I could not find coronavirus-related data which discussed the thermal stability of mannose-binding lectin (i.e. a suitable temperature range).
However, there is information about lectins which have found thermal degradation to occur at 70degC.
If you wish to review the literature yourself, I suggest searching within “Google Scholar” at https://scholar.google.com/. Here, articles published by journals are peer-reviewed by scientists who have achieved top-level credibility in their field (as indicated by the journal title). It is in these journals that scientists share their research work (it is their knowledge base).