Melaleuca Shuts Out Flu Virus
Three Chinese researchers teamed up with two Australian colleagues to see if Melaleuca alternifolia Concentrate (essential oil), termed MAC, had an effect against the flu virus H1N1 that killed 17,000 people worldwide after being identified in April 2009.
It is pointed out in the study1 that four major pandemics in the 20th century caused 20-50 million deaths. Defenses against flu are antivirals like osetamivir (Tamiflu®) and vaccines. Of course the H1N1 virus has developed resistance to Tamiflu. The study reports that "over 160 sporadic viral isolates of 2009 H1N1 virus show resistance to osetamivir due to the NA H275Y genotype mutation."2 The authors then remind readers that though vaccines were created to protect from this flu, "the safety of these vaccines remains one of the major public concerns in most . . . countries, as deaths and serious side effects of vaccines against H1N1 virus have been reported."3
While this study is most interesting and may be downloaded at no charge,4 we warn readers that it may require extensive knowledge of cellular biology to understand it.
Understanding the chemistry of Melaleuca alternifolia seems almost elementary compared to trying to grasp "the particle-mesh ewald (PME) method" and "a Lamarckian genetic algorithm." The study authors report that the variety of melaleuca used in this study has over 100 constituents but is mainly composed of terpinen-4-ol (56-58%), γ-terpinene (20.65%), and α-terpinene (9.8%).
This research on the pathogenic influenza viruses was performed in a bio-safety level 2 laboratory at Zhongshan School of Medicine of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Testing was done on MDCK cells. These cells are named for SH Madin and NB Darby, who isolated kidney tissue from an adult female cocker spaniel in 1958.
To summarize the study, some terms must be defined. Virus particles are called virons, which have an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat. Haemagglutinin is a glycoprotein found on the surface of the influenza virus. The authors of the study set up testing to evaluate the interaction between MAC (Melaleuca alternifolia Concentrate) and the viral haemagglutinin, which is the means by which the virus gains access to a healthy cell.
The researchers' conclusion is that "By computational simulations, we found that terpinen-4-ol, which is the major bioactive component of MAC, could combine with the membrane fusion site of haemagglutinin. Thus, we proved that MAC could prevent influenza virus from entering host cells by disturbing the normal viral membrane fusion procedure."
The current writer understands baseball even less than this complicated study. But the idea of a "shut out" where one team keeps the other team from scoring, is perhaps an apt comparison. If melaleuca is able to deactivate the flu virus glycoprotein so that it cannot enter a cell and create illness, then we need to have this Aussie oil at the ready for the next flu invasion.
Research
Li X, et al., "Melaleuca alternifolia Concentrate Inhibits in Vitro Entry of Influenza Virus into Host Cells," Molecules. 2013 Aug 9;18(8):9550-66.
Ibid.
Ibid.
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/8/9550.
Li X, op cited.
Three Chinese researchers teamed up with two Australian colleagues to see if Melaleuca alternifolia Concentrate (essential oil), termed MAC, had an effect against the flu virus H1N1 that killed 17,000 people worldwide after being identified in April 2009.
It is pointed out in the study1 that four major pandemics in the 20th century caused 20-50 million deaths. Defenses against flu are antivirals like osetamivir (Tamiflu®) and vaccines. Of course the H1N1 virus has developed resistance to Tamiflu. The study reports that "over 160 sporadic viral isolates of 2009 H1N1 virus show resistance to osetamivir due to the NA H275Y genotype mutation."2 The authors then remind readers that though vaccines were created to protect from this flu, "the safety of these vaccines remains one of the major public concerns in most . . . countries, as deaths and serious side effects of vaccines against H1N1 virus have been reported."3
While this study is most interesting and may be downloaded at no charge,4 we warn readers that it may require extensive knowledge of cellular biology to understand it.
Understanding the chemistry of Melaleuca alternifolia seems almost elementary compared to trying to grasp "the particle-mesh ewald (PME) method" and "a Lamarckian genetic algorithm." The study authors report that the variety of melaleuca used in this study has over 100 constituents but is mainly composed of terpinen-4-ol (56-58%), γ-terpinene (20.65%), and α-terpinene (9.8%).
This research on the pathogenic influenza viruses was performed in a bio-safety level 2 laboratory at Zhongshan School of Medicine of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Testing was done on MDCK cells. These cells are named for SH Madin and NB Darby, who isolated kidney tissue from an adult female cocker spaniel in 1958.
To summarize the study, some terms must be defined. Virus particles are called virons, which have an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat. Haemagglutinin is a glycoprotein found on the surface of the influenza virus. The authors of the study set up testing to evaluate the interaction between MAC (Melaleuca alternifolia Concentrate) and the viral haemagglutinin, which is the means by which the virus gains access to a healthy cell.
The researchers' conclusion is that "By computational simulations, we found that terpinen-4-ol, which is the major bioactive component of MAC, could combine with the membrane fusion site of haemagglutinin. Thus, we proved that MAC could prevent influenza virus from entering host cells by disturbing the normal viral membrane fusion procedure."
The current writer understands baseball even less than this complicated study. But the idea of a "shut out" where one team keeps the other team from scoring, is perhaps an apt comparison. If melaleuca is able to deactivate the flu virus glycoprotein so that it cannot enter a cell and create illness, then we need to have this Aussie oil at the ready for the next flu invasion.
Research
Li X, et al., "Melaleuca alternifolia Concentrate Inhibits in Vitro Entry of Influenza Virus into Host Cells," Molecules. 2013 Aug 9;18(8):9550-66.
Ibid.
Ibid.
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/8/9550.
Li X, op cited.
No comments:
Post a Comment