Serum from the human subjects who intake grape seed extractants had better potency to block the entry of wild-type and different variant Vpps.
(A). The schematic illustrates the timeline of blood collection. First, the baseline blood sample was collected before taking control or grape seed extract (GSE) capsules. After baseline blood sample collection, the human subjects were randomized to one of three groups to take the GSE capsule (200 mg or 400 mg), or the placebo and collected the blood at the indicated time. (B–F) Each serum sample from the human subjects was diluted 1/200 and premixed with wild-type or different variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike Vpps for 1 hr before incubation with 293T-ACE2 cells. After 24 hr of infection, the infection efficiency rate was measured according to luciferase activities. All data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 5). The p-values are indicated by asterisks, *p<0.05; **p≤0.01; ***p≤0.001; ****p≤0.0001; n.s., no statistical significance.
As readers of my Substack know, I am convinced of the efficacy of phytonutrients in combating not only SARS-CoV-2, but disease in general. We now have a confirmed new weapon to use against SARS-CoV-2 and its Spike Protein. That weapon is Grape Seed Extract.
Natural tannins have the ability to not only stop the Spike Protein’s interaction with ACE2, thereby inhibiting infection, they also have the ability to inhibit the replication of the virus. Think of it as Tannins put up a two-tiered “barrier” to the invasion of SARS-CoV-2. And they do this quite well.
Punicalagin efficiently blocked ACE2–Spike protein interaction and repress the main protease activity, while tannic acid and oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) had higher inhibition activity against TMPRSS2.
(A) The percentage of Spike–ACE2 interaction from ELISA-based assay is shown with the indicated concentration of tannic acid, OPCs, or punicalagin. All data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 3). The p-values are indicated by asterisks, ***p≤0.001.(B) The main protease enzymatic activity was measured using a FRET-based assay with the indicated concentration of tannic acid, OPCs, or punicalagin. All data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 3). The p-values are indicated by asterisks, **p≤0.01; ***p≤0.001. (C) The TMPRSS2 enzymatic activity in vivo was measured using a FRET-based assay with an increasing amount of tannic acid, OPCs, or punicalagin. All data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 3). The p-values are indicated by asterisks compared to TMPRSS22 alone group (black column). Extra-sum-of-squares F-test was performed to evaluate differences of IC50 of tannic acid or OPC compared to punicalagion. **p≤ 0.01; **p≤ 0.01; ***p≤0.001; n.s., no statistical significance.
Given this remarkable evidence, the next question is: Where can we find these Tannins?
Nature has given us a Mother Load of these treasures in the form of Grape Seed Extract (GSE).
Since all three tannin compounds associated with anti-SASR-CoV-2 activity through different mechanisms and they are enriched in fruits, this finding prompted us to examine the potential anti-omicron effect of tannin-enriched fruits. Grapes are a natural fruit containing abundant tannin (Wang et al., 2020d). The relative contents of OPCs, tannic acid, and punicalagin in different parts of the grapes produced from Changhua County in Taiwan were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) (Figure 6A–C). Fractionation analysis showed that water extractants from the seeds contained much more OPCs compared to peel and flesh extractants (Figure 6D). However, each part of the grape extractants included a small amount of tannic acid and was almost free of punicalagin (Figure 6D). We further measure the concentration of OPCs in the juice from seedless grapes and regular grapes containing grape seeds. The result showed that seedless grapes contained far less level of OPCs than regular grapes with seeds (Figure 6D) and suggested that grape seeds were an important source of OPCs, the main compound of the three tannins.
Perhaps the best news is that GSE is a safe and abundant supplement, with proven results.
The results showed that serum samples from the human subjects who intake either 200 mg or 400 mg GSE capsules had a dose-dependent suppressive activity against different variants of SARS-CoV-2 Vpp infection compared to the baseline serum samples (Figure 7B–F). In addition, we also observed that serum samples from the human subjects who intook GSE capsules twice had better protection from wild-type, alpha, delta, and omicron SARS-CoV-2 Vpp infection than the serum samples derived from the subjects who intook GSE capsules only once. These results indicated that daily intake of GSE may be able to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
I believe the article I have extensively cited sums up the findings best.
We found that two tannin compounds OPCs and punicalagin had potent inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, in addition to the tannic acid reported before. We further assessed the efficacy across the different cell systems and different variants of Vpps and unveiled potentially essential aspects of the action mechanisms of OPCs and punicalagin. The results indeed showed that OPCs and punicalagin can serve as good inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, we also observed that GSE contained abundant OPCs and may serve as a good resource for food supplements to prevent virus infection. It seems unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 will disappear naturally or by current intervention strategies (Furuse and Oshitani, 2020). Thus, identifying natural products such as fruits associated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities may be important for the community. The knowledge stemming from this study can help in the guideline for the development of food, nutrients, or supplements to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The natural tannins oligomeric proanthocyanidins and punicalagin are potent inhibitors of infection by SARS-CoV-2
https://elifesciences.org/articles/84899
The above is a work of medical research and not medical advice. Please consult your Primary Care Provider before using any supplement or medication.
I am encouraged that we continue to find TRULY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and its Spike Protein. I wish all a blessed weekend and immense thanks and gratitude for your continued support.
Is there a difference between grape seed extract and Resveratol?
Thank you for your work, Walter! Grape seed extract was the major ingredient in my arsenol to reverse chronic sinusitus and it helped me immensely with long lasting effects (I successfully avoided imminent surgery). I take it orally and add it to the daily saline rinse in my Waterpik.