COVID-19 has made us more aware of the importance of hygiene and finding ways to reduce the spread of the virus.
Since the pandemic started in 2020, and multiple strains and waves of COVID-19 later, the medical community has suggested numerous ways to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Similarly, with a new ‘FLiRT’ variant of COVID-19 spreading in the United States, a new study has brought to light another remedy against COVID-19.The study published in Food and Environmental Virology explores the potential of tea to inactivate infectious SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. Here’s a breakdown of the findings of this study which explains how tea can be a helpful tool in our fight against COVID-19.
The study focused on how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can infect the oral mucosa (the mouth lining) and be present in saliva. Traditionally, tea has been used in different cultures to treat respiratory issues. The researchers wanted to see if certain teas could quickly deactivate the virus in saliva.
The researchers tested 24 different types of tea. They prepared these teas as infusions and mixed them with SARS-CoV-2 in water. Then they incubated the mixtures for a short time at body temperature (37°C) to simulate conditions in the mouth.
Additionally, the researchers conducted tests to see when the teas were most effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. They found that adding the teas at the time of virus infection showed the highest inhibitory effect.