Banana against AIDS! New fruit medicine kills dangerous viruses

Its key ingredient is a protein banana lectin (BanLec) whose activity against HIV was discovered five years ago. However, banlek then caused terrible side effects.

Scientists claim to have created a “miraculous cure” of bananas that can kill many viruses, including those that cause hepatitis C, influenza and AIDS. They hope that a new drug could become crucial in protecting humanity from some of the most dangerous diseases.

Its key ingredient is a protein banana lectin (BanLec) whose activity against the HIV virus was discovered five years ago. However, BanLec then caused terrible side effects that scientists have succeeded to solve now.

They created a new version of BanLec, and it has already shown its effectiveness in mice, which thanks to the medicine did not get flu, even though they were exposed to the virus.

The drug works so that it “sticks” of sugar molecules which are located on the surface of some of the most lethal viruses in the world. When it binds to a virus, it is henceforth considered to be harmless and the immune system can affect it easily.

Researchers believe that a new drug could be effective against Ebola. They warn that eating banana doesn’t have the same effect, because they use a modified version of BanLec in the drug.