A new study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine on mice suggested that sulforaphane (a compound found in green leafy vegetables) can protect against lung damage caused by “Covid-19”, according to the British “Express” website.
According to the website, the results of the study revealed that the compound caused a 17% decrease in the amount of virus in the lungs and a 9% decrease in its amount in the upper respiratory tract.
In this context, the researchers also found that the lung injury was 29 percent lower, compared to the mice that did not receive sulforaphane.
The compound reduced inflammation in the lungs by protecting cells from an overactive immune response; Which appears to be a driving factor that causes people to die from COVID-19.
To make it more clear, Alvaro Ordonez, first author of the paper, assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said, “What we found is that sulforaphane is antiviral to SARS-CoV-2 viruses while also helping to control immune responses. This multifunctional activity makes it an interesting compound to use against these viral infections, as well as those caused by other human coronaviruses.”
Notably, in previous research it was proven that sulforaphane provides a wealth of health benefits especially for digestion and cancer.
Sulforaphane contains anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, neuro-protective and anti-diabetic properties. As its name suggests, sulforaphane is a sulfur-rich compound often found in cruciferous vegetables. Additional research has shown that the compound reduces inflammation by neutralizing toxins in the body.
Since inflammation is linked to several types of cancer, the compound has been hailed for its protective effects against the disease.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, our multidisciplinary research teams shifted our investigation of viruses and other bacteria to focus on a potential treatment,” said Laurie Jones-Brando, assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. I was testing several compounds for anti-coronavirus activity and decided to try sulforaphane because it showed modest activity against the other microbial agents we are studying.”
In one experiment, the team exposed mice cells to sulforaphane for one to two hours before infecting the cells with SARs-CoV-2, and found that a lower concentration of the plant compound reduced the replication of six strains of SARS-CoV-2 by 50%, including delta and omicron variants. The results also revealed that the combination of low-dose sulforaphane and remdesivir was more effective against the virus than either of the treatments applied alone.