A current study on a preparation that could help against the coronavirus has led to a storm on pharmacies.
Does Echinacea Really Help With Covid-19?
Does the herbal remedy Echinacea help against the coronavirus *?
The Spiez Laboratory, which is part of the Swiss Institute for NBC Protection, pursued this question in a study.
The researchers have now presented the results in the British specialist magazine "Virology Journal" - which, according to media reports, has led to empty shelves at pharmacists in Switzerland.
What is Echinacea?
There is a plant behind Echinacea that should say something to everyone:
the coneflower
.
It is said to have a preventive effect against colds, although the effectiveness of most Echinacea products has not been clearly proven.
Herbal remedy: why should Echinacea help against Covid-19?
In particular, the Spiez Laboratory examined the Echinaforce tablets, which are used as traditional medicines for those who are
susceptible to colds
.
According to the study, it is said to have proven effectiveness against various cold coronaviruses.
As the portal “apotheke adhoc” reports, the manufacturer has been researching coronaviruses for several years: the company is said to have tested the effectiveness of the preparation against Sars-CoV-1 as early as 2003.
The researchers checked the
antiviral potential
by pretreating special virus particles and infecting them with Sars-CoV-2.
These cells were then exposed to the Echinaforce tablets.
In addition, the scientists mimicked a natural infection in which the preparation had
a "killing" effect against various cold coronaviruses
such as Sars-CoV-1, Sars-CoV-2 and Mers.
The results of the study meant that the demand for the natural remedy increased enormously and it was sold out in numerous pharmacies.
Also interesting
: new coronavirus symptom?
Common pain could be an indication.
Echinacea as a drug against the coronavirus?
Laboratory takes position on study
After the rush to the pharmacies and media reports that praised the drug to the sky, the researchers at the Spiez laboratory were now forced to put the results of the study into perspective.
Again, to be clear: The transfer of results of an in-vitro study to the effectiveness in humans is not scientifically compelling.
Data from an in-vitro study aren't proof of the efficacy of an active ingredient in humans (in-vivo).
Read the study: https://t.co/51ihhkDVQK
- Spiez Laboratory (@SpiezLab) September 14, 2020
As it says in a tweet, the effect of Echinacea against the coronavirus
has so far only been determined in vitro
.
What works in the Petri dish has not yet been proven in humans.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
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