Zinc helpers stop cold viruses
Antiviral Activity of the Zinc Ionophores Pyrithione and Hinokitiol against Picornavirus Infections
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Early stages of virus infection remain unaffected by treatment
The compounds don't stop initial viral entry but work later in replication
Practical Takeaways
Not specified in abstract
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Early stages of virus infection remain unaffected by treatment
The compounds don't stop initial viral entry but work later in replication
Practical Takeaways
Not specified in abstract
Publication
Journal
Journal of Virology
Year
2008
Authors
B. Krenn, E. Gaudernak, B. Holzer, Kjerstin Lanke, F. V. Kuppeveld, J. Seipelt
Related Content
Claims (7)
Zinc can stop cold viruses from copying themselves and spreading in lab tests.
Zinc can stop viruses from copying themselves and spreading in lab tests, even for cold viruses.
These two chemicals help zinc quickly get inside cells and go to specific spots like mitochondria. This temporary zinc boost is what makes them fight certain viruses.
Two chemicals, pyrithione and hinokitiol, can fight certain viruses by needing zinc helpers to work, and they do this by raising zinc levels inside cells—a new way to stop these viruses.
Scientists found that two chemicals, pyrithione and hinokitiol, don't stop viruses from getting into cells at the start of an infection, but they do work later on to slow down how the virus copies itself.