A groundbreaking development in viral disease prevention has emerged from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with Finnish scientists. The team has created an innovative chewing gum that shows remarkable effectiveness against both herpes simplex viruses and influenza A strains.
The new gum is made from Lablab purpureus beans, which naturally contain FRIL - a protein that acts as a viral trap. In laboratory tests, the gum demonstrated an impressive ability to reduce viral loads of HSV-1, HSV-2, and two influenza A strains (H1N1 and H3N2) by more than 95%.
This novel approach targets viruses in the oral cavity, a primary transmission route for both herpes and influenza. With over two-thirds of the global population affected by HSV-1 and annual flu epidemics causing widespread illness, this development offers a promising preventive solution.
The research team formulated 2-gram gum tablets containing 40 milligrams of bean extract. These tablets meet FDA requirements for clinical-grade drug products, paving the way for future human trials. The natural food-based source makes it particularly appealing from a safety perspective.
Looking ahead, researchers are exploring the gum's potential against avian influenza, which currently poses a growing threat across North America. Professor Henry Daniell from Penn's School of Dental Medicine notes that this innovation could provide broad-spectrum protection against multiple viral threats.
"Controlling virus transmission continues to be a major global challenge," says Daniell. "This gum, made from a natural food source, offers a safe and scalable way to curb both human and avian flu as well as herpes transmission."
This development represents a unique approach to viral prevention, offering a potentially accessible and user-friendly method to help control the spread of these common viruses.