Anti-Viral Plants

[Michaelangelica]

Icelandic angelica: prevention for swine flu?
Angelica seed heads

By Alex on Jun 16, 2009 in Finance and Business, Iceland, International, MBL, Marketing and Consulting, Science & Technology

Prof. Dr. Sigmundur Gudbjarnason and associates’ research carried out since 1992 reveals that the seeds and leaves of the Icelandic variety of Angelica archangelica contain potent bioactive compounds that help prevent viral infections, such as cold and flu.

The compounds found in the Icelandic angelica herb are known to restrict viral proliferation and strengthen the body against infection by viruses, according to Dr. Gudbjarnason, head of research and development at SagaMedica and former President of the University of Iceland.

What can we learn from the 1918 flu pandemic to help prevent Influenza A (swine flu)?

Dr. Gudbjarnason says, “There are several important antiviral compounds in Angelica archangelica that might be important in prevention of viral infections.
This should be considered if the Influenza A becomes a more severe epidemic and flu medication becomes scarce”

During the time of the Spanish influenza (1), there are accounts of Angelica archangelica being used as flu treatment in Denmark.
Recent studies linking the origin of the swine flu virus to the Spanish influenza (2) of 1918 further suggest that the herb may prove to be an effective prophylactic for swine flu prevention people can use to avoid infection if the Influenza A virus becomes more severe.

Icelandic angelica: prevention for swine flu? | IceNews - Daily News

"Icelandic variety" all the same plant wherever grown.

[Michaelangelica]

ScienceDaily.

Virus-resistant Grapevines

GFLV infects the grapevine and causes fanleaf disease, resulting in deformed and very yellowed leaves, smaller grapes and crop loss.

However, there will soon be a cure for GFLV infections: Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME in Aachen are making certain plants resistant to the GFLV by genetic engineering. “Our modified plants produce antibodies,” explains Dr. Stefan Schillberg, head of department at the IME. “These antibodies ‘recognize’ the viruses and prevent them from spreading in the plant and causing damage.” To enable the plant to produce the antibodies, the scientists have to modify its genotype and channel genetic information for the antibodies into it.

Virus-resistant Grapevines
How come they can't do this with people?

[Turtle]

Prunella vulgaris, otherwise known as Selfheal or Heal-all, turns out to have anti-viral properties. native in many places throughout the world, it is native here & i ran across some while on walk-about looking for plants & seeds. i collected a couple whole plants, but not sure if they gonna make it. no worries as there is plenty more plants to go back to in a while & gather seed from.

anyway, this plant has a long history of medicinal use and now is getting some first class scientific scrutiny. of particular interest to me, as i suffer a serious peanut/tree nut allergy, is that Selfheal may be effective as a treatment for anaphylaxis! not a bad find considering i checked my epi-pen the other day only to find that it expired 6 years ago.

anyway, here's some good stuffs:

Prunella Vulgaris : by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Originally Posted by Ray Sahelian M.D.

Prunella vulgaris composition
Rosmarinic acid and triterpenoid are some of the substances found in prunella.

Benefit of Prunella Vulgaris
According to some laboratory studies, prunella has many potential benefits, including anti-microbial, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant properties. Prunella may have activity against herpes simplex virus which could be of benefit in oral herpes and genital herpes. However, human studies are lacking therefore not much more can be said about the clinical uses of a prunella vulgaris supplement.
...
Inhibition of immediate-type allergic reactions by Prunella vulgaris in a murine model.
Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2001 Aug;23(3):423-35.
We studied the effect of aqueous extract of Prunella vulgaris (Labiatae) on immediate-type allergic reactions. Prunella vulgaris (0.005 to 1 g/kg) dose-dependently inhibited systemic anaphylactic shock induced by compound 48/ 80 in rats. When Prunella vulgaris was given as pretreatment, at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 1 g/kg, the serum histamine levels induced by compound 48/ 80 were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Prunella vulgaris (0.001 to 1 g/kg) inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE antibody dose dependently. Prunella vulgaris also inhibited the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE from the rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC). The level of cyclic AMP in RPMC, when Prunella vulgaris was added, significantly increased, compared with that of normal control. Moreover, Prunella vulgaris (0.01 and 0.1 mg/ml) had a significant inhibitory effect on anti-DNP IgE-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha production from RPMC. These results indicate that Prunella vulgaris inhibits immediate-type allergic reactions in rats. ...

additional reference to herpes: >>Prunella Vulgaris, Herb for herpes treatment
usda plant profile page: >> PLANTS Profile for Prunella vulgaris (common selfheal) | USDA PLANTS

the flowers don't smell, but sniffing them made me sneeze, and the leaves taste pretty much like leaf. i'll put up a pic or 2 later of my plants; it's dark here at the moment.

[freeztar]

Prunella vulgaris is what most people would call a "weed". It's a shame as if they looked up the common name "heal-all", it might click somewhere.

Good call Turtle, though I wouldn't substitute it for a fresh epi!

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by freeztar

Prunella vulgaris is what most people would call a "weed". It's a shame as if they looked up the common name "heal-all", it might click somewhere.

Good call Turtle, though I wouldn't substitute it for a fresh epi!

aye. but a weed is just a plant in a place you don't want it. here's a photo of my new healing weed.