This Weed Scattered Across the Fields... Inhibits Norovirus Without Cure by Up to 97%

Sanbaemddalgi, known to contain ingredients that suppress norovirus. National Institute of Biological Resources

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It has been discovered that the wild strawberry, a plant commonly found in domestic mountains and fields, contains components that inhibit norovirus.

On the 12th, the National Institute of Biological Resources announced that, in a joint study with Professor Byun Sang-gyun's research team at Yonsei University, they found that wild strawberry extract suppresses norovirus and increases the survival rate of immune cells.

When the research team administered wild strawberry extract to immune cells infected with norovirus, the norovirus was inhibited by up to 97%, and the survival rate of immune cells increased by up to 33%. Additionally, when animals fed with wild strawberry extract were infected with norovirus, the intestinal norovirus was suppressed by 61%.

The research team filed a patent for this study this month.

Norovirus is an infectious disease that mainly spreads between November and April. This virus can survive at low temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius and is highly contagious. Even after infection, the immunity period is short, increasing the risk of reinfection. Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea appear within 12 to 48 hours after infection, accompanied by abdominal pain, chills, and fever.

Norovirus infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or contact with hands or environments contaminated by the feces or vomit of infected patients. The risk of infection increases especially in winter when consuming raw seafood such as raw oysters.

However, no vaccine to prevent norovirus has been developed yet. This is due to the high mutation rate of norovirus, with 48 virus genotypes discovered so far.

Seo Min-hwan, director of the National Institute of Biological Resources, said, "It is significant that we found a way to prevent norovirus infection, for which there are no adequate vaccines or treatments, from native plants," adding, "We will conduct further research on the active components."

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