For years now, green tea has been making the headlines owing to its health benefiting properties. It is loaded with antioxidants and healthy bioactive compounds that are deemed great for the body's detoxification - further leading to weight loss, glowing skin and more. Several researchers across the world have also found that as little as one cup of green tea may help reduce heart risks and manage diabetes. Adding to the pool of health benefits, a new study recently found that it might also help tackle COVID-19. Yes, you heard us!
Published in the journal 'RSC Advances', the findings state that gallocatechin - a compound found in green tea - may help in the development of a drug that can combat the SARS-CoV-2. This study was carried out by an academician at Swansea University. According to a report in ANI, Dr Suresh Mohankumar "is investigating how green tea could give rise to a drug capable of tackling the deadly disease."
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Green tea is a storehouse of antioxidants
Dr Mohankumar stated that the findings suggest that one of the compounds in green tea could combat the coronavirus behind Covid-19. "The compound that our model predicts to be most active is gallocatechin, which is present in green tea and could be readily available, accessible, and affordable. There now needs to be further investigation to show if it can be proven clinically effective and safe for preventing or treating Covid-19," he further explained.
However, as per the researcher, the study is still in its early stage and had a long way to go before any clinical application. "There now needs to be appropriate pre-clinical and clinical studies and we would welcome potential collaborators and partners to help carry this work forward," he added.