Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 22, 2026 55 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity at Fudan University in China, the Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, and the Nutrition and Health Research Institute at Wuhan Polytechnic University have discovered that extracts from black tea and blueberries may help stop the monkeypox (Mpox) virus from infecting cells.
Scientists discover that black tea and blueberry extracts may block monkeypox virus entry and reduce
infection levels naturally
Natural Foods Showing Surprising Antiviral Power
Monkeypox, now also referred to as mpox, continues to worry global health authorities after outbreaks spread across Africa, Europe, and other regions in recent years. While vaccines and antiviral drugs exist, many are expensive, difficult to access, or linked to side effects. Scientists have therefore been searching for safer and cheaper alternatives that could be easily used in poorer countries where outbreaks are more common.
In this new study, researchers focused on “food-medicine homologous” substances, which are natural foods believed to provide both nutritional and medicinal benefits. The team tested several plant-based extracts and found that black tea extract and blueberry extract showed especially strong antiviral activity against orthopoxviruses, the viral family that includes monkeypox and smallpox.
The researchers used both vaccinia virus, which is closely related to monkeypox, and a specially engineered monkeypox research platform that safely mimics important stages of monkeypox infection. Laboratory tests showed that both black tea extract and blueberry extract were able to sharply reduce viral infection levels in cells.
How The Extracts Block Infection
One of the most important findings was how these natural extracts appear to stop the virus. Scientists discovered that the compounds do not mainly work by protecting human cells. Instead, they seem to attack the virus directly.
The study showed that the extracts interfere during the early stage of infection, after the virus attaches to cells but before it fully enters them. The researchers believe the extracts interact with two viral surface proteins known as B6R and L1R. These proteins help the virus fuse with host cells and spread infection.
Black tea extract demonstrated particularly strong activity, while blueberry extract also showed impressive results. The study found that the antiviral effect was not caused by toxicity to cells, which is important because many antiviral compounds can damage healthy tissue.
Interestingly, the scientists also discovered that combining black tea and blueberry extracts together produced an even stronger antiviral effect. The mixture worked better than either extract alone, suggesting a synergistic effect. This
Medical News report highlights how combinations of natural compounds may eventually become part of future antiviral prevention strategies.
ong>Oral Protection Seen in Animal Studies
The research team also tested the extracts in mice infected with vaccinia virus through the respiratory tract. Mice were given oral doses of black tea or blueberry extracts before infection.
Results showed that animals receiving the extracts had lower viral loads in lung and nasal tissues compared to untreated mice. Although the reductions were described as modest, the findings were still significant because they suggest that orally consumed natural products may provide some level of protection against orthopoxvirus infections.
Researchers noted that black tea contains compounds called theaflavins, while blueberries are rich in anthocyanins. Both types of compounds are already known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, but this study now suggests they may also possess antiviral abilities.
The scientists further stated that these natural substances may be especially useful in resource-limited regions because they are relatively cheap, widely available, easy to transport, and generally considered safe for human consumption.
Important Limitations Still Remain
Despite the exciting findings, the researchers warned that much more work is still needed. The experiments were mainly performed in laboratory settings and in animal models. Human clinical trials have not yet been conducted.
The team also admitted that the extracts likely contain multiple active ingredients, and scientists still need to identify which specific compounds are most responsible for the antiviral effects. Additionally, the protective effects seen in mice were only partial rather than complete.
Still, the findings are important because few affordable oral treatments currently exist for monkeypox. The study provides early scientific evidence that common food-based compounds might one day help reduce infection risk or complement existing antiviral therapies.
Conclusion
The discovery that black tea and blueberry extracts can interfere with monkeypox-related viruses offers a promising new direction in antiviral research. These natural compounds appear to target viral entry mechanisms and may work even better when combined together or paired with other antiviral agents.
Although the research remains at an early stage, the affordability, safety profile, and accessibility of these extracts make them highly attractive candidates for further development, especially for vulnerable populations in Africa and other regions where healthcare resources remain limited. Future studies involving real monkeypox infections and human clinical trials will be essential before these extracts can be recommended as preventive or therapeutic treatments.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Current Research in Microbial Sciences.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666517426000635
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/monkeypox
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