The discovery of "lichens" useful in the treatment of corona and cancer

Researchers from the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have used usnic acid, extracted from Siberian lichens, to make drugs against infection with the emerging coronavirus.

According to TASS, researchers with the help of certain chemical methods were able to modify the substance produced by lichens, and obtained biologically active molecules.

As is known, Usnic acid affects various pathogens - fungi, bacteria and viruses.

But the problem is that it is toxic to the body.

But modifying it allows scientists to obtain compounds that are less dangerous and more effective.

The researcher, Alexander Filimonov, from the Laboratory of Physiology of Active Substances, notes that he and his colleagues discovered substances that are "very active against infection of various strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus."

He adds, the researchers obtained these substances from the modification of usnic acid, which has anti-cancer properties, as it slows down DNA repair in cancer cells.

That is, if these substances are used in the treatment of cancer along with drugs used in the treatment of tumors, it will increase the effectiveness of the drugs and reduce their side effects.

The results of testing these materials on laboratory mice showed that usnic acid derivatives, when used with the anti-cancer drug Topotecan, make cancer cells less resistant to the drug and increase its effectiveness in the rate of tumor growth and the number of metastases.

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