Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 24, 2025 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
Medical News: A Natural Plant Extract That Helps Fight the SARS-CoV-2 Virus
A new study from researchers at Chonnam National University, CorestemChemon Inc, and Jeonbuk National University Medical School has revealed surprising early evidence that a Korean perilla leaf extract might help reduce the severity of COVID-19. Using the SH101 Roborovski hamster model, which closely mimics the human form of the disease, scientists tested an ethanol extract of the herb known as P108 and observed notable improvements in viral levels, inflammation, and lung damage when administered soon after infection. These results, highlighted in this
Medical News report, suggest that a widely used culinary plant in Korea may hold potential as an accessible early-intervention option.
Korean Perilla Leaf Extract Shows Promise Against COVID-19
How the Study Was Conducted
Hamsters were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and then given either a low dose or high dose of P108 daily for 10 days. Other groups received saline or Paxlovid for comparison. The researchers carefully monitored body temperature, weight changes, lung pathology, blood clotting markers, cytokine levels, and viral load to understand the extract’s full impact. According to the data from the study, the perilla extract contained high levels of rosmarinic acid, a natural compound previously known for anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects.
Key Findings Showing Strong Potential
High-dose P108 helped infected hamsters recover their body weight and avoided the dangerous drop in body temperature seen in the untreated group. The extract significantly reduced levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, two inflammation-driving cytokines linked to severe COVID-19, while raising IL-10, a protective anti-inflammatory cytokine. Blood markers tied to clot formation also improved.
Viral RNA levels in the lungs were substantially lower in the high-dose group at day five, with reductions comparable to the Paxlovid-treated group. Lung tissue examination showed fewer inflammatory cells and clearer lung structure in animals given P108, suggesting protection against COVID-19-induced pneumonia and tissue damage.
Why Perilla Leaf Extract Could Matter
Perilla frutescens, commonly used in Korean cuisine, has long been recognized for its medicinal properties. The strong presence of rosmarinic acid in the extract may help inhibit viral replication and calm immune overreaction, two crucial factors in preventing severe disease. While these findings are early and based on an animal model, they point toward the possibility that a safe, food-derived extract could someday be part of preventive or early-treatment strategies.
Conclusion
This research demonstrates that Korean perilla leaf extract P108 can reduce viral loads, ease inflammation, and protect lung tissue in hamsters when provided shortly after infection. Although more studies, including clinical trials, are required to confirm these benefits in humans, the results offer meaningful encouragement. If future rese
arch verifies its effects in people, this natural extract could become an affordable tool to help reduce illness severity during COVID-19 outbreaks. Continued investigation is needed, especially to understand dosage, timing, and how it may work alongside existing medications.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Frontiers in Virology.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virology/articles/10.3389/fviro.2025.1685444/full
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/covid-19-herbs
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
Share
Tweet
Share
