Hepatitis C Virus Arrested By Grape Fruit Compound
The compound, which is a common flavonoid naringenin, aids in blocking the secretion of HCV from infected cells. The results of this study may have implications
in finding potential therapy for the infection in human patients. A combination of naringenin and antiviral medication might allow patient to clear the virus from their livers.
The study led by Yaakov Nahmias, PhD, of the MGH-CEM, has reported that HCV is bound to very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL, a so-called ‘bad’ cholesterol) when it is secreted from liver cells and that the viral secretion required to pass infection to other cells may be blocked by the common flavonoid naringenin.
‘By finding that HCV is secreted from infected cells by latching onto vLDL, we have identified a key pathway in the viral lifecycle. These results suggest that lipid-lowering drugs, as well as supplements, such as naringenin, may be combined with traditional antiviral therapies to reduce or even eliminate HCV from infected patients,’ said Nahmias.
While HCV infects about 3 pct of the world population existing antiviral medications are effective in only half of infected patients, 70 percent of whom develop chronic infection that can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Filed under: Pharmacy News
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