Friday Hope: Kumquat: Vastly Improves Cough Resolution and Improves Resolution of Other Symptoms in Acute COVID
The compound Eriodyctiol, found in Kumquats, also inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of Cancers.
As we continue to discover the wealth of safe and effective therapeutics that Nature provides in our battle against SARS-CoV-2 and its Spike Protein, it is becoming apparent that some compounds may be more beneficial at certain stages of COVID disease than others. Of course, the therapeutics we have found are also quite useful against other ailments and the “thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to.” The regular consumption of several we have discussed may be particularly beneficial now, given the startling rise in cancer diagnoses.
This week I have been researching the Chinese TCM citrus fruit, Kumquat.
Kumquats (/ˈkʌmkwɒt/ KUM-kwot), or cumquats in Australian English, are a group of small, angiosperm, fruit-bearing trees in the family Rutaceae. Their taxonomy is disputed. They were previously classified as forming the now-historical genus Fortunella or placed within Citrus, sensu lato. Different classifications have alternatively assigned them to anywhere from a single species, Citrus japonica, to numerous species representing each cultivar. Recent genomic analysis defines three pure species, Citrus hindsii, C. margarita and C. crassifolia, with C. × japonica being a hybrid of the last two.
The edible fruit closely resembles the orange (Citrus sinensis) in color, texture, and anatomy, but is much smaller, being approximately the size of a large olive. The kumquat is a fairly cold-hardy citrus.
Kumquat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumquat
In China, TCM practitioners had been using Kumquat to treat the cough of Acute COVID. The treatment resulted in a far more rapid resolution of the cough compared to those who were not administered Kumquat. Chinese researchers decided to delve into the practice to determine if the treatment was effective. What they discovered confirmed the reports of TCM practitioners.
Of 1434 patients, 671 patients were excluded from the analysis of cough resolution. Among the remaining 763 patients, 481 (63.04%) received kumquat decoction, and 282 (36.96%) received usual care. The median age was 38.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 29.0, 50.0) years, and 55.7% were women. During a median follow-up of 7.000 days, 68.2% of patients in the kumquat group achieved sustained cough resolution (93.77 per 1000 person-days) compared to 39.7% in the usual care group (72.94 per 1000 person-days). The differences in restricted mean survival time (RMST) (kumquat decoction minus usual care group) for cough resolution were -0.742 days (95% CI, -1.235 to -0.250, P = 0.003) on Day 7. In the main analysis using propensity-score matching, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for cough resolution (kumquat decoction vs. usual care group) was 1.94 (95% CI, 1.48 to 2.53, P < 0.001). Similar findings were found in multiple sensitivity analyses. In addition, the use of kumquat decoction was associated with the resolution of cough, and a stuffy nose on Days 5 and 7, as well as the resolution of sore throat on Day 7 following medication.
Effectiveness of kumquat decoction for the improvement of cough caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, a multicentre, prospective observational study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711323003690#bib0015
As we may observe, not only did the Kumquat decoction result in a more rapid resolution of cough, it also improved the resolution of other symptoms, such as stuffy nose and sore throat. It is clear that administration of Kumquat decoction is significantly effective in treating Acute COVID.
Looking deeper into the benefits of Kumquats there is much to be found. Antioxidants, minerals, vitamins: a cornucopia of nutritional support.
Citrus fruit is preferred in the choice of consumers. Kumquat (F. margarita) is an unconventional citrus of increasing consumer interest because of its exotic flavor, and its functional potential that offers health benefits to consumers. It is a fruit traditionally consumed by whole fruit (peel and pulp), giving this fruit a distinctive flavor. For this reason, this study analyzed the physical, chemical, and nutritional characteristics of kumquat (peel and pulp). The physicochemical analysis was performed according to the Adolfo Lutz Institute. Analysis of moisture, ashes, macronutrients, and total dietary fiber was carried out according to AOAC. Minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Vitamins C and E, carotenoids and flavonoids were analyzed by HPLC. Phenolic compounds (Folin-Ciocalteu) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were determined by spectrophotometry. The kumquat had low pH, soluble solids content and low caloric value. It was a source of dietary fiber, minerals (K, Ca, P, Mg) and carotenoids; the most expressive was α-carotene (661.81 μg 100 g−1). The ascorbic acid concentration was 2326.24 μg 100 g−1. α-tocopherol (569.00 μg 100 g−1) was the most expressive component of vitamin E. There was a presence of apigenin and eriodictyol. The fruit (peel and pulp) has a high concentration of total phenolic compounds (98.55 ± 1.93 mg GAE 100 g−1) and good antioxidant capacity (62%) was found. Kumquat is a good source of fiber and vitamin A, and due to its antioxidant capacity and the presence of other essential and beneficial nutrients for a diet, consumption of kumquat can be suggested to complement the diet. This fruit is a viable food alternative, and its consumption should be encouraged, contributing a source of income, sovereignty, and food security.
Kumquat (Fortunella margarita): A Good Alternative for the Ingestion of Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds
https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/70/1/105
One particular compound caught my eye – the presence of Eriodyctiol. Given the rampant rise in cancer diagnoses, a compound which has been proven to prevent cancer proliferation and metastasis is much prized. It is effective against lung, colon, breast, pancreas, and liver cancer, and most significantly against glioma cell lines.
Glioma is the most common type of malignant brain tumor. Due to its highly aggressive and metastatic features, glioma is associated with poor prognosis and a lack of effective treatments. Eriodictyol, a natural flavonoid compound, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the anti-tumor effects of eriodictyol and the underlying mechanisms have rarely been reported. In this study, we found that eriodictyol has anti-tumor activity in lung, colon, breast, pancreas, and liver cancer, and most significantly in glioma cell lines. Eriodictyol dose- and time-dependently suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in U87MG and CHG-5 glioma cells. In addition, eriodictyol induces apoptosis in U87MG and CHG-5 cells, as evaluated by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. Furthermore, eriodictyol downregulates the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the effects of eriodictyol on the apoptosis of glioma cells are enhanced by LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor) and reversed by 740 Y-P (a PI3K agonist). In a mouse xenograft model, eriodictyol not only dramatically suppressed tumor growth but also induced apoptosis in tumor cells. In summary, our data illustrate that eriodictyol effectively inhibits proliferation and metastasis and induces apoptosis of glioma cell lines, which might be a result of the blockade of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Eriodictyol Inhibits Proliferation, Metastasis and Induces Apoptosis of Glioma Cells via PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7052300/
I will now be seeking out Kumquats when I grocery shop. Please feel free to leave suggestions for consumption and favored supplements in the comments. The above is a work of medical research. Please consult your Primary Care Provider before using any drugs or supplements.
Blessings to all this first weekend of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere! I am ever mindful and thankful for your support, engaging dialog and readership. Blessings to all this first weekend of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere!
Kumquats. I had a kumquat tree once. They are very easy to grow as I remember and cold hardy. It produced a lot of fruit. I think I'll grow another.
Thank you for all this. Now I know why God made kumquats at least in part.
baked white fish (rock fish, halibut, cod,etc) with olive oil, kumquats cut in half, chopped garlic, salt & pepper is mighty delicious. Also avocado toast with sliced kumquats. You can also make a really tasty marmalade with them.