'Domestic Chestnut Honey' Confirmed to Inhibit Virus... Immune Cells Increased Over 4 Times

Nongjincheong and Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine Collaborate on Antiviral Effects of Domestic Chestnut Honey

A study has found that domestically produced chestnut honey enhances innate immunity and suppresses viruses.

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) announced the results of a study on the antiviral effects of domestically produced chestnut honey on the 20th, conducted in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.

According to the RDA, experiments using immune cells showed that chestnut honey inhibited infection by the 'Influenza A' virus?the most common type of influenza virus causing illness in humans?by 62.2%. Additionally, mice infected with the virus without being given chestnut honey all died within six days, whereas 60% of mice fed domestically produced chestnut honey (600 mg/kg) daily for two weeks survived.

Typically, body weight decreases upon viral infection, but in the chestnut honey-treated group, weight loss due to viral infection was alleviated by 17.3% compared to the untreated group.

Evaluation of interferon beta (IFN-β) expression and natural killer (NK) cell activity in the serum and spleen (an immune cell-producing organ) of mice fed chestnut honey showed that interferon beta increased 4.3 times and NK cell activity increased 4.6 times.

The RDA revealed that the enhancement of innate immunity by chestnut honey is due to the component 'kynurenic acid' contained in chestnut honey. Kynurenic acid is present at 1,168 mg per 1 kg of chestnut honey. Since kynurenic acid is hardly detected in other honeys, including acacia honey, which accounts for the largest share of honey production, the RDA expects that kynurenic acid can be used as a marker substance for chestnut honey.

Lee Sang-jae, head of the Agricultural Biology Division at the RDA, said, "This study was conducted to verify the antiviral effects of domestically produced chestnut honey and identify its active components, laying the foundation for utilizing our chestnut honey in various materials." He added, "We hope this research will lead to increased consumption of chestnut honey and significantly help improve the income of beekeeping farmers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.