Suppression of influenza A virus nuclear antigen production and
neuraminidase activity by a nutrient mixture containing ascorbic acid, green
tea extract and amino acids
Affiliations: Dr. Rath Research Institute, Santa Clara, CA,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Aleksandra Niedzwiecki, 1260 Memorex
Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA. Tel.: +1 408 807 5564; Fax: +1 408 567 5030;
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Influenza, one of the oldest and most common infections, poses a
serious health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality, and
imposing substantial economic costs. The efficacy of current drugs is limited
and improved therapies are needed. A unique nutrient mixture (NM), containing
ascorbic acid, green tea extract, lysine, proline, N-acetyl cysteine, selenium
among other micronutrients, has been shown to exert anti-carcinogenic and
anti-atherogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. Many of the constituents
of NM have been shown to have an inhibitory effect on replication of influenza
virus and HIV. This prompted us to study the effect of NM on influenza A virus
multiplication in infected cells and neuraminidase activity (NA) in virus
particles. Addition of NM to Vero or MDCK cells post infection resulted in
dose-dependent inhibition of viral nucleoprotein (NP) production in infected
cells. NM-mediated inhibition of viral NP was selective and not due to
cytotoxicity towards host cells. This antiviral effect was enhanced by
pretreatment of virus with the nutrient mixture. Individual components of NM,
namely ascorbic acid and green tea extract, also blocked viral NP production,
conferring enhanced inhibition when tested in combination. Incubation of
cell-free virus with NM resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of associated NA
enzyme activity. In conclusion, the nutrient mixture exerts an antiviral effect
against influenza A virus by lowering viral protein production in infected
cells and diminishing viral enzymatic activity in cell-free particles.
