Plant Against Hepatitis C

The herbaceous perennial Marrubium peregrinum (horehound) bears resemblance to other herbs, such as catnip or sage, and produces an interesting substance that could be used to combat the hepatitis C virus: The flavonoid ladanein. Researchers at TWINCORE, which was established by the HZI and the Medical University Hannover, have discovered that this substance prevents hepatitis C viruses from entering into liver cells. This could in future help to prevent the re-infection of transplanted livers, as is the hope of the group of scientists around Dr Sybille Haid from the working group Experimental Virology. These days hepatitis C is one of the most frequent causes for having a liver transplant. However, if a hepatitis C patient is to receive a new liver, the virus often attacks also the transplant.

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