Plant Hunting

In light of the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, and with information that the virus accesses the angiotensin converter enzyme (II) (ACE 2) receptor for cell entry, plant-based products that are known mimics to known ACE2 inhibitors as their original features show diuretic properties can be looked at a mechanistic tool for preventative and responsive treatment. Two such, juniper and dandelion, are diuretic aswell as showing other antiviral properties against influenza together with other antibacterial and antiviral plants, notably against influenza and SARS-Cov-1 - mullein, slippery elm, elderflower and berberine (from leatherleaf mahonia).

Literature evidence suggests for the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 to enter the cell via endocytosis, the protease enzyme cathepsin L is needed to regulate this update, and of most concern in this paper is the authors' assertions that 'patients' sera show limited cross-neutralisation, suggesting recovery from one infection might not protect against the other' , this combined with chance that certain blood groups are potentially more susceptible. By looking at literature of known plant inhibitors of this enzyme, flavenoids such as 3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid and quercetin (page 22, fig 6.22) are known inhibitors. A good source of mimics to the -ioc acid illustrated is liquorice, which is rich in the mimics of glycryrrhizin and enoxolone, known as 18B-glycryrrhetinic acid shown as a cathepsin inhibitor. For this reason, it is the view of the author that a gargle in plants can help to prevent the buccal and nasal pathways against SARS-Cov-2.

Your author is therefore taking the following tincture for protection against viral and bacterial infection on a daily basis with the following papers referenced for evidence of effectiveness: Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), Rubus armeniacus (blackcurrant) and Glycrrhiza glabra (liquorice) and flowers/berries of Sambucus nigra (elder), Juniperus communis (juniper), Mahonia bealei (leatherleaf mahonia), Berberris darwinni (darwinni barbery), Sorbus aucuparia (European mountain-ash), Pyracantha coccinea (pyracantha firethorn), Prunus spinosa (sloeberry), Gaulheria mucronata (gaultheria pink) and Viburnum opulus (guelda rose).

If you are aware of locations of the various plants, which are used for their potential medicinal-values, please inform me via s.b.rossington@salford.ac.uk of their location as I use plants to extract via steam distillations - see here for an example.

Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) - a species of honeysuckle around Blackleach Country Park in the autumn of 2019.

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) from Newall Green in August 2019.

Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) from Rivington's hills in November 2019.

The stunning and breathtaking site of Laburnum anagyroides, taken around the Bolton, Manchester and Salford conurbations - this Fabaceae is truly a tree of beauty in the author's view.

Broom, both Scotch and Spanish (Cytisus scoparius) around the West Lancashire Moors (and near Bolton Wanderers' football stadium) in the summer of 2019.