Researchers say Blueberry Leaves can help block Hepatitis C Virus

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Researchers say blueberry leaves can help block hepatitis C virus

www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-08 19:18:22 Print

 

TOKYO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japanese researchers say they have found a

chemical in blueberry leaves that can block the replication of the hepatitis C

virus.

 

The discovery opens up a new avenue for treating chronic hepatitis C

infections (HCV).

 

HCV affects 200 million people worldwide and can eventually lead to

cirrhosis or liver cancer.

 

Currently, there is no vaccine for HCV, and though a drug regimen can clear

an HCV infection, the treatment is only about 60 percent effective on average

and poses a risk of severe side effects.

 

Because HCV is localized in the liver and can take 20 years or longer to

develop into disease, researchers at University of Miyazaki believe that a

dietary supplement might help slow or stop the disease's progression.

 

The researchers screened nearly 300 different agricultural products for

potential compounds that suppress HCV replication and found one in the leaves of

blueberries.

 

The researchers purified the compound and identified it as proanthocyanidin,

a polyphenol similar to the beneficial chemicals found in grapes.

 

Proanthocyanidin can be harmful but researchers noted its effective

concentration against HCV was 100 times less than the toxic threshold. Similar

chemicals are found in many edible plants, suggesting that proanthocyanidin

should be safe as a dietary supplement.

 

The researchers now aim to explore the detailed mechanisms of how the

chemical stops HCV replication.

 

The study will be published in the Aug. 14 issue of The Journal of

Biological Chemistry.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/08/content_11848292.htm

 

Best Wishes,

Scarlet

http://www.healthyhepper.com

Hepatitis C Alternative Medicine