Anti-Viral Plants

[maikeru]

Originally Posted by Mercedes Benzene

Why don't we just determine what the key chemicals are and produce them artificially...
that sounds more economic than harvesting rare plants.

Sometimes it's not just a question of determining what the key chemicals are, but also the method and dose of administration, how they react with other common chemicals or physiological conditions in us, are metabolized by gut flora, processed by the hepatic portal and liver enzymes, etc. These can alter or greatly modify the actions of key chemicals. (Basically, we're getting into pharmacology here, which is something beyond me.) For example, green tea catechins (the primary powerful antioxidants) are modified in the digestive system, and I think EGCG molecules become covalently bonded with each other and this improves bioavailability (what is absorbed into the bloodstream). I don't remember exactly what chemical reactions take place, and even so, my organic chemistry is really rusty. Anyway, I have a sneaking suspicion that what is often tested in vitro on cultured cells may not always translate into applicable results in vivo or in people.

Here's a good site with apprx. 10 pages of information on antiviral plants.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl..._6/ai_81761453

Nice. ^_^

[Michaelangelica]

Mangosteen
Hyssop has antiviral activity against herpes simplex and HIV-1.
Licorice may be helpful.
Olive Leaf has anti-HIV activity
Rooibos tea has anti-HIV activity.
Ginseng -- CD4+ T cell counts in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients are maintained or even increased when treated with Korean red ginseng. High doses of ginseng can be overly stimulating and cause insomnia.
Catuaba, an Amazonian plant, has anti-HIV activity.
Marigold

More info on these herbs here
HIV : by Ray Sahelian, M.D., hiv natural therapy hiv herbs
mostly talking about HIV but hey if it can get Hiv it can get other bugs too right?

Aaron’s rod

Widely cultivated in Egypt and in central and southern Europe, Aaron’s rod is a herbaceous biennial.
The plant is covered in yellowfish down, which was once used for making wicks for candles hence it is sometimes known as the ‘candlewick plant’.
Research has indicated that Aarons rod has anti-viral properties and it may also help to inhibit the spread of cancer.

Medicine and health » Blog Archive » Aaron’s rod

Research Article
Phytochemical screening and antiviral activity of some medicinal plants from the island Soqotra
The methanol extracts of Boswellia ameero, Boswellia elongata, Buxus hildebrandtii, Cissus hamaderohensis, Cleome socotrana, Dracaena cinnabari, Exacum affine, Jatropha unicostata and Kalanchoe farinacea showed anti-influenza virus type A activity with 50% inhibition (IC50) concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 12.5 �g/mL.
In addition, 17 plants of the 25 investigated exhibited anti-HSV-1 activity. The antiviral activity of some active extracts was also observed on a molecular level

Wiley InterScience :: Session Cookies

[Michaelangelica]

Herpes Anti-viral plants
Traditional Chinese Medicine/TCM and Genital Herpes

[Michaelangelica]

Introduction
Co-evolution between plants and their natural enemies – including insects, bacteria,fungi, nematodes, animals, humans, and viruses – is considerably more far reaching than current theories of reciprocal interactions suggest.

Counter-resistance, genetic adaptability, polymorphic immune capacity, and pleomorphism among microbial agents allow for immense diversity of species and endless biochemical possibilities.1

In order to adapt to environmental insults, plants produce a vast number of natural products that have antimicrobial and immunomodulating potential.2 These include isoflavonoids, indoles, phytosterols, polysaccharides, sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, glucans, tannins, a variety of vitamins and trace minerals that function as antioxidants and co-enzymes, and many other phytochemical substances.

In addition, there are a number of parallels between plant immunological activity and the immune systems of mammals, including adaptive mechanisms for viral resistance.3
. . .
Uña de Gato (Uncaria tomentosa)
Uncaria tomentosa, or uña de gato
(cat’s claw), is the best known of the Peruvian
medicinal plants and the most frequently
represented in the literature. A woody vine
containing a clear watery sap, it grows wild in
the upper Amazon region of Peru and
neighboring countries, and can reach several
inches in diameter and 1,000 feet in height.
. . .
Sangre de Grado (Croton lechleri)
Croton lechleri is a large tree that
grows in the upper Amazon region of Colombia,
Ecuador, and Peru where the majority of
the field research has taken place. A dark red
resin, from which the name sangre de grado
derives, flows easily from cuts in the bark and
is used fresh or processed into a pow ered dry
extract of the resin for medicinal purposes. In
traditional Amazonian medicine sangre de
grado is used as an oral gargle for sore throat,
as a vaginal antiseptic after childbirth,42 topically
as a hemostatic, and taken internally for
wound healing.
. . .
Conclusion
The available research indicates that
both sangre de grado and uña de gato have antiinflammatory,
immunomodulating, and antiviral
effects that make them interesting candidates
for further study,10 possible adaptogenic
and cellular repair properties that have not yet
been fully explored, and a broad range of potential
therapeutic applications. With renewed
concern over viral plagues, increasing incidence
of cancer, and inflammatory conditions
associated with aging, additional testing, both
in vitro and in vivo, of these medicinal plants
of the upper northwestern Amazon basin may
prove valuable to the health of individuals and
to nations.

http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/6/6/567.pdf

[Michaelangelica]

More an article about ethnobotany.
http://www.herbalgram.org/new-chapte...view.asp?a=316
Anoying they don't mention the name of the herb
Anyone want to ring Shaman Pharmaceuticals (in USA)and ask?

One example of an ethnomedical profile of an antiviral plant includes a plant utilized for diarrhea, pulmonary problems, cuts, skin irritations, rheumatism, tonsillitis, enhanced fertility, tuberculosis, coughs and flu, hemorrhoids, contraceptives and sore muscles.
This plant is now in human clinical trials as part of an antiviral development program and has yielded a molecule, SP-303, which shows strong in-vitro and in-vivo activity against respiratory syncitial virus as well as influenza A and B. This particular molecule is non-synthesizable due to its complex structure and must be developed and marketed from natural sources in several Latin American countries. Human clinical trials for SP-303 ("Provir") began in October 1991.

An approach that respects the knowledge of local and indigenous people and the forest has helped bring Shaman Pharmaceuticals to the Phase I human clinical trials of an antiviral agent. Indigenous knowledge about the chemical potential of tropical forest species has been brought back to the laboratory where sophisticated scientific techniques are used to analyze and screen these compounds. Shaman has managed, in 16 months, to bring a compound into Phase I human clinical trials. This was accomplished by combining indigenous knowledge with the work of extraordinary effective and skilled natural products chemists and pharmacologists.

The plant itself occurs naturally in ten tropical countries and, after harvesting, regenerates rapidly with minimal management. It is a pioneer species and establishes itself quickly where land has been cleared, especially old garden sites and road sites, making it an ideal addition to buffer zones around protected areas and a component of agroforestry systems.

[Michaelangelica]

I have heard a lot of good reports of this tree

Pau d'arco - A Potent Antiviral Herb that Combats Bacterial and ...
Pau d'arco - A Potent Antiviral Herb that Combats Bacterial and Viral Infection By Consumer Health Advocate, Frank Mangano ..

Pau d'arco - A Potent Antiviral Herb that Combats Bacterial and Viral Infection

Experts have isolated over 20 active chemicals in pau d'arco and it has demonstrated to effectively combat bacterial and viral infections. In laboratory animals, research has shown pau d'arco to increase the supply of oxygen to cells and thereby helping to destroy bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses by increasing the supply of oxygen to cells.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which have made it a recommendation among many for the treatment of allergies, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Its medicinal actions include:

Oregano: Not just for dinner
Oregano: Not just for dinner - Natural Living at PennLive.com

There are dozens of different varieties of oregano.
I grow the Greek/ Italian variety. Very hot and strong flavour.
Most seed grown stuff from nurseries is rubbish.
I often add it to my 'sore throat' remedy.

[Chacmool]

Great thread, everyone! I've never heard of many of these plants, but their healing properties are astonishing. I'm suffering from a particularly severe bout of flu at the moment and I was hoping to find some advice here. It's almost 2am in South Africa, and here I am because I'm unable to sleep due to pain and congestion.

[Chacmool]

I'm still sick as a dog, and now willing to try any remedy. I've find something containing cinnamon oil which claims to be a one-day cure for flu. We'll see if that gives me a good night's sleep at last.

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Chacmool

I'm still sick as a dog, and now willing to try any remedy. I've find something containing cinnamon oil which claims to be a one-day cure for flu. We'll see if that gives me a good night's sleep at last.

I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Chac. Where's that handsome young lad to bring you some chicken soup... or, perhaps Matza ball soup?


I use Scotch and/or Irish Whiskey when under the weather. It works everytime.


Although, come to think of it, that likely doesn't fall under the category of "anti-viral plants."

[Chacmool]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Chac. Where's that handsome young lad to bring you some chicken soup... or, perhaps Matza ball soup?

Hmmm... good question! I'll certainly take him to task over that one.

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

I use Scotch and/or Irish Whiskey when under the weather. It works everytime.

Although, come to think of it, that likely doesn't fall under the category of "anti-viral plants."

I'm surprised and overjoyed to announced that the cinnamon remedy seems to be working. I've had a good night's sleep for the first time in over a week and I can almost breathe again. However, I must also admit that this particular remedy also contains a fair amount of alcohol, so I'm not sure where the healing is really coming from.