[Michaelangelica]

I am interested in plants that may be anti-viral.
We don't seem to have many conventional ant-virals in our medical armory.
With Bird flu on the horizon we might need them one day.
or
If you think you may have Borna or an Obesity Virus (see Depression & Obesity threads) These might be worth trying.
I'll list them as I come across them
http://www.newstarget.com/020091.html

Indian Consumption Plant (Lomatium Dissectum) a powerful antiviral medicine synthesized by nature

Posted Tuesday, August 22, 2006 by NewsTarget, Key concepts: medicinal herbs, antivirals and Lomatium.
Printable article Permalink: http://www.NewsTarget.com/020091.html

A powerful antiviral plant used by Native Americans to survive the 1918 influenza epidemic may prove to be a strong modern-day cold and flu remedy, according to a report from the University of California.

The root -- called Lomatium Dissectum, Biscuit Root or Indian Consumption Plant -- was eaten by the Washoe Indians to battle viral illnesses such as influenza. During the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, not a single Washoe tribe member died from influenza or its complications.
However, other tribes living in Nevada in areas where the plant did not grow experienced a number of deaths, according to Dr. Ernst T. Krebs, a Nevada physician writing in the Bulletin of the Nevada State Board of Health.

The plant, a member of the parsley family, is wildcrafted, and grows in dry, sandy climates. Krebs says it acts as a bronchial, intestinal and urinary antiseptic, and is also a diaphoretic (causes perspiration) and diuretic.
It is usually prepared by cutting up the root and boiling it in water, then skimming off the top and consuming large doses of the broth to treat cold, flu and even pneumonia.

"As the human population faces the near-certain risk of future infectious disease pandemics, plants like Lomatium may prove themselves as lifesavers for those consumers wise enough to acknowledge that nature, not man, creates the best medicine," said Mike Adams, author of How to Beat the Bird Flu.

Currently the Lomatium plant is listed as "at risk" by United Plant Savers.

An endangered plant. Bugger. Not a good one to start with.
Does anyone know where to buy seeds or how it grows?

[Michaelangelica]

Syzigium claviflorum

probably realted to cloves.
Does anyone from Taiwan know what it looks like or how it grows?
(has been used in Taiwan to treat diarrhea and halt bleeding)

Betulinic acid, a triterpenoid isolated from the methyl alcohol extract of the leaves of Syzigium claviflorum, was found to have a potent inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/full/45/4/1225

[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.

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

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

[Jay-qu]

sometimes the organic processes are so complex and not understood well enough to re-produce in the lab. Theres a challenge for you MB as a chemist, to be able to recreate any chemical in the lab

[Mercedes Benzene]

sometimes the organic processes are so complex and not understood well enough to re-produce in the lab. Theres a challenge for you MB as a chemist, to be able to recreate any chemical in the lab

Yes, but it is extremely easy to make something like Betulinic acid (that Michaelangelica mentioned earlier). It can also be found in some birch trees!

[Jay-qu]

just try and make a molecule of DNA! (without using any sexual processes..)

[Ganoderma]

From: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy-scroll3.pl

I dont really understand any of the below, but it is probably pretty interesting to people who do...

__________________________________________________ ____
Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Syzgium claviflorum ()

Chemicals

BETULINIC-ACID Leaf: JAD

Anthelmintic X11315752 ; Antibacterial X10630117 ; Anticancer JBH ; Anticarcinomic JBH ; Antiedemic X7701004 ; AntiHIV 14.8 uM EC50=2.0 ug/ml JNP61:1090 IC50=6.5 ug/ml; Antiinflammatory PM61:9 ; Antileukemic X9353895 ; Antimalarial IC50=19-26 ug/ml PR13:115 ; Antimelanomic NYT3/28/95 ; Antinociceptive; Antiplasmodial PR13:115 ; Antitumor JBH ; Antiviral 14.8 uM; Apoptotic; Cytotoxic 16.4 uM JNP66:263 50-100 ppm BPCC ; Phospholipase-A2-Inhibitor X11684183 ; Prostaglandin-Synthesis-Inhibitor 200 ug/ml PC48:495 IC50=101 uM YHH30:621

__________________________________________________ _____

BETULINIC-ACID
Biological Activities

Anthelmintic Reference: X11315752
AntiHIV Dosage: IC50=6.5 ug/ml; Reference: JNP61:1090 JNP57:243 Dosage: EC50=2.0 ug/ml; Reference: JNP61:1090 Dosage: 14.8 uM; Reference: JNP66:263 JNP57:243
Antibacterial Reference: X10630117
Anticancer Reference: JBH
Anticarcinomic Reference: JBH
Antiedemic Reference: X7701004
Antiinflammatory Reference: PM61:9
Antileukemic Reference: X9353895
Antimalarial Dosage: IC50=19-26 ug/ml; Reference: PR13:115
Antimelanomic Reference: NYT3/28/95
Antinociceptive Reference: 1; X103991940
Antiplasmodial Dosage: IC50=19-26 ug/ml; Reference: PR13:115
Antitumor Reference: JBH
Antiviral Dosage: 14.8 uM; Reference: JNP66:263 JNP57:243
Apoptotic Reference: X11107130 X7489361
Cytotoxic Dosage: 50-100 ppm; Reference: BPCC Dosage: 16.4 uM; Reference: JNP66:263
Phospholipase-A2-Inhibitor Reference: X11684183
Prostaglandin-Synthesis-Inhibitor Dosage: 200 ug/ml; Reference: PC48:495 Dosage: IC50=101 uM; Reference: YHH30:621

Plant species with highest amount

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. -- Asparagus Pea, Goa Bean, Winged Bean; 53,000 ppm in Root JAD;
Diospyros perigrina; 25,000 - 30,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Solanum aviculare; 30,000 ppm in Tissue Culture JAD;
Wormia burbidgei; 24,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Arbutus menziesii PURSH.; 20,000 ppm in Plant JAD; 20,000 ppm in Plant PHYT13:2002;
Cornus florida L. -- American Dogwood; 20,000 ppm in Bark JAD; 20,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002;
Lemaireocereus griseus; 20,000 ppm in Plant PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Ternstromia merriliana JACK.; 20,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Dillenia indica L.; 19,000 ppm in Pericarp JAD;
Eurya acuminata DC; 18,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Platanus accrifolia WILLD.; 18,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002;
Platanus acerifolia; 18,000 ppm in Bark JAD;
Platanus occidentalis L.; 17,500 ppm in Bark JAD;
Platanus orientalis L.; 17,500 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002;
Nuytsia floribunda R.BR.; 17,000 ppm in Shoot PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Dillenia retusa THUNB.; 16,000 ppm in Fruit JAD;
Wormia triquetra ROTTB.; 16,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Diospyros montana; 15,300 ppm in Bark JAD;
Tetracera scandens; 13,500 ppm in Leaf JAD;
Dillenia indica L.; 13,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Tetracera sarmentosa; 12,300 ppm in Leaf JAD;
Spondianthus preussii; 12,000 ppm in Stem Bark JAD;
Syncarpia glomulifera; 12,000 ppm in Bark JAD;
Syncarpia laurifolia TENORE; 12,000 ppm in Bark PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Tetracera akara; 10,500 ppm in Leaf JAD;
Tectona grandis L.F -- Teak; 10,000 ppm in Wood PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Wormia triquetra ROTTB.; 10,000 ppm in Fruit PHYT13:2002 JAD;
Zizyphus jujuba MILL. -- Da-Zao, Jujube, Ta-Tsao; 10,000 ppm in Bark JAD;
Dillenia pentagyna; 9,800 ppm in Leaf JAD;
Alphitonia excelsa; 8,700 ppm in Leaf JAD;


__________________________________________________ ________

Chemicals with Antihiv Activity

(+)-CATECHIN EC50=4 ug/ml
AJOENE
ALPHITOLIC-ACID EC50=20 ug/ml IC50=4 ug/ml
AMENTOFLAVONE IC50=119 ug/ml IC97=200 ug/ml
APIGENIN IC50=143 ug/ml IC72=200 ug/ml
ARCTIGENIN IC65=0.27 uM IC85=0.5 uM
BAICALEIN
BAICALIN
BAICALIN-A
BETULIN 6.1 uM
BETULINIC-ACID 14.8 uM EC50=2.0 ug/ml IC50=6.5 ug/ml
CAFFEIC-ACID EC50=200 ug/ml
CARNOSOL
CARNOSOLIC-ACID IC90=0.32 ug/ml
CASTANOSPERMINE
CHICORIC-ACID
CHLOROGENIC-ACID
CHRYSIN
CICHORIC-ACID
COLCHICINE EC50=0.01 uM
CURCUMIN IC50=40 uM
DIALLYL-DISULFIDE
ELLAGIC-ACID IC90=200 ug/ml
ELLAGITANNIN
EPICATECHIN EC50=2 ug/ml
FULVOPLUMIERIN IC50=45 ug/ml
GALLIC-ACID
GERANIIN
GLYCYRRHISOFLAVONE
GLYCYRRHIZIN 0.6 mM
GOSSYPOL 100 uM
HINOKIFLAVONE IC50=62 ug/ml IC90=200 ug/ml
ISOLICOFLAVONOL 20 ug/ml
KAEMPFEROL-3-O-GLUCOSIDE
LICOCHALCONE-A 20 ug/ml
LIGNIN
LUTEOLIN
MASLINIC-ACID IC100=18 ug/ml
METHANOL EC50=<20 ug/ml
MYRICETIN
NARINGENIN IC35=200 ug/ml
OLEANOLIC-ACID EC50=1.7 ug/ml IC50=21.8 ug/ml
PAPAVERINE 10 ug/ml 900 mg/man/day/orl
POLYPHENOLS
POMOLIC-ACID EC50=1.4 ug/ml IC50=23.3 ug/ml
PROCYANIDIN
PROCYANIDINS
PUNICALAGIN
QUERCETAGETIN
QUERCETIN
ROSMARINIC-ACID EC50=40 ug/ml
TANNIC-ACID IC90=200 ug/ml
TANNIN
TILIROSIDE
TRACHELOGENIN IC65=0.52 uM
URSOLIC-ACID 6.7 uM EC50=2.0 ug/ml IC50=6.5 ug/ml IC85=18 ug/ml

[Mercedes Benzene]

I dont really understand any of the below, but it is probably pretty interesting to people who do...

This is pretty interesting indeed. Excellent work!

Betulinic Acid looks to be a very promising drug in the future.
I would keep an eye on it.

[Michaelangelica]

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.
]

Good idea. But no chemical company can patent a naturally occuring chemical so the incentive $ for research is not there.
This is the case with most herbal remedies.

There is one company on the stockmarket looking into ethnobotanical remedies.
You might like to look them up or buy shares. It is Shaman Pharmaceuticals of the USA

They can patent "processes"
That is what, I think, this wordy document is about
http://www.pharmcast.com/Patents100/...iral051606.htm

[Michaelangelica]

Elderberry has long been used in my family for colds. usually a tea made from the flowers.Quite pleasant
I have made Elderberry Champagne (supposedly non-alcoholic) which is simplicity to make and if you get it right as good as its French namesake ( By the by it is still legal to use the word Champagne in England when referring to Elderberry Champagne. No wonder the French and English hate each other!)
A friend used to make Elderberry Wine from the berries. Very tasty, like a fruity port Very alcoholic. (The only time I have really seen double after drinking. I could't find her doorway, or which doorway, to go home.)
We only seem to see the Canadian Elderberry in this country. It is more like a big bush with -3+M long canes coming from the base.

I don't think I have ever seen the real Elderberry tree.

This is from a review of Anti Viral Plants.
I did find an interesting List of anti- virals but seem to have lost it.
Probably best to look at one at a time anyway


From (More plants here too..)
http://www.intmedpress.com/Journal%2...07104209330C52

Sambucus nigra L

Extracts of various parts of Sambucus spp. have their
place in folk medicine and contain potential antivirals
such as flavonoids, triterpenes, tannins and phenolic
acids [22].
In vitro testing of a standardized preparation based
on the berries of the black elder indicated antiinfluenza
virus properties and led to its use in a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT during an influenza B epidemic [24].
The study group consisted of 40 individuals and most showed serological
evidence of influenza B infection. Children received two and adults four tablespoons per day of either standardized elderberry syrup (Sambucol) or placebo.
In the treated group, higher mean antibody titres in convalescent-phase sera indicated an enhanced immune response to the virus, though this did not
reach the level of significance. There was, however,
significantly faster recovery in the treated group.

Similar positive results have recently been obtained from a further RCT, details of which have been extracted from an abstract [25].
Sixty patients suffering from flu-like symptoms for less than 48 hwere treated with 15 ml elderberry syrup or placebo four times per day for 5 days.
Patients recorded and scored symptoms four times per day during treatment and twice per day for 9 days thereafter. In the elderberry-treated group symptoms disappeared an average of 4 days earlier than in the placebo group (P<0.001).
A therapeutic effect on flu-like symptoms was also
indicated by significantly less use of rescue medication
in the elderberry-treated group.

--