Cranberry and herpes virus

The plant's leaves are harvested as an ingredient in stomach medicines, and its flowers are dried and prepared as herbal remedies for lung problems, say the researchers.

Chun-Ching Lin and colleagues from Taiwan's Kaohsiung Medical University recently tested the herpes virus fighting potential of the berry and sought to evaluate the way the antioxidant compound worked to fight herpes simplex type 2 HSV-2 infection. Herpes simplex-2 search is one of the most common viral infections in humans.

It causes genital sores or ulcers, as well as inflammation of the brain and infection of newborns and people with weakened immune systems. The proanthocyanidins appear to be powerful chemicals, with health effects that include battling bacteria, viruses, carcinogens, inflammation, and allergies, write Lin and colleagues in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

The plant compound didn't make herpes simplex-2 any less infectious. Instead, it interfered with the virus when it tried to latch onto and penetrate cells — a necessary step for infection by the herpes virus.

The compound did not exhibit any harmful effects on cells at doses necessary to block entrance of the virus into the cells. While HSV-1 is involved with sores and lesions of the mouth, lips and face, HSV-2 is transmitted sexually and causes genital ulcers. Fever and enlarged lesions are common in HSV infections. Some cases are mild and do not require any treatment.

Antiviral medications may be prescribed to treat more severe infections. The role of natural products such as cranberry in treating herpes infections in humans, however, has not been proven conclusively. The ripe fruits of cranberry, or Vaccinium macrocarpon, plant have been used as a food and as a medicinal herb.

It possesses significant antioxidant activity and helps stabilize the free oxygen radicals formed as a result of various metabolic processes in the body. Cranberry juice and supplements may also help prevent or treat urinary tract infections, ulcers, certain types of cancers and heart disease, although supporting scientific evidence is limited.

The standard dose, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, includes 3 oz. Cranberry juice is generally safe to use, although extremely large doses can lead to upset stomach and diarrhea.

It is important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms. Always talk to a doctor before using cranberry to treat herpes virus infections. Also remember that cranberry may not replace your existing medications as more research is needed to prove its efficacy.