Chinese herb proved effective in inhibiting COVID-19 virus: HKUMed

The LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) announced that a natural product derived from a Chinese herb Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn, or Suberet Spatholobus, has been discovered to effectively inhibit several viruses, including SARS-Cov-2, which has caused the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The research found that percolation extract of SSD, or SSP, is a broad-spectrum viral entry inhibitor against SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and HIV-1as an entry blocker.

The research has resulted in a few international and domestic patents, including the extraction technique, which has been granted the European Patent.

The research team has been studying this Chinese medicine for over 20 years, said Chen Jianping, principal lecturer of the School of Chinese Medicine, HKUMed, who hopes the Chinese medicine could be developed to prevent COVID-19.