Botanical extracts that might prove effective in the fight against Covid-19

Positive results in an anti SARS-COV-2 screening program for three natural compounds have made significant progress in research for not just as a potential natural vaccine to fight SARS-COV-2 but also as a formula that can kill SARS-COV-2 infected lung cells quickly.

The Australian UPcare Group have successfully identified that one of their natural compounds, UP-A can successfully inhibit SARS-COV-2 infection in Vero cells.

A preliminary screen conducted under contract by the Doherty Institute and Monash University showed low micromolar inhibition of SARS-COV-2 by UP­A and similar levels of inhibition when combined with UPcare’s other compounds UP­U and UP­P.

These results and potential synergistic effects are to be confirmed and explored further.

The UPcare Group says the three natural compounds namely UP­A, UP­U, and UP­P are botanical extracts that have been used in medicinal formulations for centuries. They are derived from loquat, knotweed and chiretta.

Two of the natural compounds UP-U and UP-P are present in UPcare Groups product UPplus KBD Spray, which is currently being sold over the counter and online as a TGA and FDA approved respiratory health and immune boosting product.

The UPcare Group, which is currently privately funded, are now in the process of raising a further $50 million AUD to carry out the human trials required to prove their TGA-approved products, UPplus A Spray and UPplus A Capsules, containing all three compounds can also eliminate SARS­COV-2 in infected individuals.

Manufacturing for the UPplus A Spray and UPplus A Capsules will begin early 2021.

If the UPcare Group’s human trials are successful it will be approved as a natural formulation available on the global market in the fight against SARS­COV-2.

Must Read

New regional roadmaps for prioritising antimicrobial resistance

0
A new publication by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) identifies priority actions pharmacists should take to minimise antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The publication presents six...