A Japanese research team has discovered a compound in Holy Basil that inhibits coronavirus proliferation, potentially paving the way for a natural therapeutic agent, Mainichi Japan reported.

SQDG offers a natural alternative that could be safer and effective against multiple virus strains.
Led by Toshiyuki Hamada, associate professor at Kagoshima University, the team identified Sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) as the key compound. SQDG suppresses the activity of the "main protease," an enzyme critical for viral replication. Experiments using cultured cells confirmed its infection-inhibiting properties.
The research, published in the Journal of Natural Medicines, focused on pesticide-free basil grown in Minamiosumi, Kagoshima Prefecture. While synthetic drugs targeting the main protease already exist, SQDG offers a natural alternative that could be safer and effective against multiple virus strains.
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