WCM-Q student researchers highlight the effects of flavonoids on Covid-19

WCM-Q student researchers highlight the effects of flavonoids on Covid-19

Student researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) contributed to a study investigating the potential of flavonoids found in plants for fighting viral infections such as Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

Under the guidance of WCM-Q mentors, medical students Ridhima Kaul and Pradipta Paul conducted a systematic review of 27 existing research papers to determine the effectiveness of 69 different flavonoids against various Sars-CoV-2 drug targets, including ‘3C-like protease’, an enzyme with a key role in replication of the virus.

The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, found that several flavonoids showed promising antiviral properties, including quercetin (found in onions, apples, berries and green tea), myricetin (found in tomatoes, oranges, nuts, various herbs, berries, and tea), and tannic acid (found in black garlic extract).

The students were mentored by Dr Ali Chaari, assistant professor of biology, and Dr Dietrich Büsselberg, professor of physiology and biophysics, and assistant dean for admissions.

Dr Chaari said: “Mentoring curious students is important to create opportunities for them to discover the research domain. I was happy to mentor two of our outstanding students, Ridhima Kaul and Pradipta Paul, and to celebrate their success, not only in science but also as future model