Scientists may find compounds in dark chocolate may block COVID-19

The chemical compounds in certain foods, including dark chocolate, cocoa powder, green tea and muscadine grapes, may have the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to recur and interfere with COVID-19 symptoms, according to a new study by plant biologists at North -Carolina State University. The investigators’ study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of specific nutrients in food and medicinal plants to prevent or influence the health outcomes of COVID-19. It used computer simulations and laboratory studies to see how the Mpro protein – a major player in the replication and transcription processes of the virus – responds to specific compounds in certain plant foods known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Computer and laboratory studies
For the computer simulation phase of the study, researchers used two different types of software to perform ‘docking simulations’, a computer simulation technique used to model the potential interaction between two molecules. The simulations showed that the chemical compounds of two different types of muscadine grapes, cocoa powder, dark chocolate and green tea all bound to different portions of the Mpro protein and filled ‘pockets’ on the enzyme, eliminating its normal functions. has. And in the in vitro laboratory phase of the study, it was found that the extracts from the green tea and grapes completely inhibited the Mpro activity, and the cocoa and dark chocolate reduced the activity by 40 to 50 percent. “Plants use these compounds to protect themselves, so it’s not surprising that plant leaves and skins contain these beneficial compounds,” said De-Yu Xie, PhD, professor of plant and microbial biology at NC State, and corresponding author. said of the study.

Further research needed
No human trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of certain foods on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The scientists suggest further research into whether certain foods and medicinal plants have a protective effect against COVID-19.