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Interviewed expert: Professor Yang Zhanqiu from the Institute of Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Health Science Center

Global Times Health Client Reporter Gao Jiayue

“I thought it was because I used the air conditioner too much or got angry, but I didn’t expect it to be another COVID-19 outbreak.Infect"I experienced symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, and cough again"... Recently, many netizens on social media platforms said that they were "positive" again. Data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention a few days ago also showed that the infection of the new coronavirus is indeed on the rise. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in many places reminded the public to take measures to prevent and control the new coronavirus. Therefore, in addition to paying attention to wearing masks and washing hands frequently, people also focused on some protective "tricks", and drinking tea is one of them.

A few years ago, there was a rumor that "drinking tea can kill the new coronavirus". The rumor originated from a study by Nara Prefectural Medical University in Japan. In vitro experiments showed that after mixing with tea, 90% of the new coronavirus was killed within 1 minute, and the proportion killed within 10 minutes reached 99.9%. Later, some experts refuted the rumor, saying that "drinking tea can kill the new coronavirus" was a quote out of context from the above study.

In January this year, researchers from the University of Georgia in the United States published an article in the journal Food and Environmental Virology titled "Tea can quickly inactivate infectious new coronaviruses in saliva". Studies have shown that black tea can kill 99.9% of new coronaviruses in the mouth within 10 seconds, while green tea, raspberry ginger tea, and mint tea can also significantly reduce the number of new coronaviruses. Researchers said that drinking tea or gargling with tea can reduce the load of new coronaviruses in the mouth and reduce oral mucosal infection, thereby preventing new coronavirus infection to a certain extent. Recently, as the topic of the new coronavirus has repeatedly been on the hot search, this study has once again aroused heated discussion among the public.

In this regard, the reporter of "Global Times Health Client" interviewed Yang Zhanqiu, a professor at the Institute of Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University. He said that the main functional component of tea is tea polyphenols, which have antioxidant,Tumor, anti-inflammatory and other effects. "Tea polyphenols can indeed kill viruses." Yang Zhanqiu introduced that in previous cell and animal experiments, it was found that tea polyphenols can destroy the envelope on the surface of influenza viruses, thereby achieving a killing effect. The new coronavirus is similar to the influenza virus and has this envelope, so tea polyphenols can also inhibit the new coronavirus. However, in previous studies, the killing effect of tea polyphenols on viruses is positively correlated with the concentration and dose of the substance, and the observation time requires 30 to 60 minutes or longer. In addition, the content of tea polyphenols in green tea is higher than that in black tea, and the antiviral effect is better. Therefore, Yang Zhanqiu is skeptical about the research conclusions of the University of Georgia.

Yang Zhanqiu said that drinking tea has two main benefits in preventing viral infections. On the one hand, tea polyphenols can kill viruses, and on the other hand, drinking water can dilute the viruses in the mouth and send the viruses from the throat to the stomach, and the gastric acid in the stomach can also kill the viruses. Therefore, whether drinking more boiled water, salt water or tea, it can indirectly play a partial role in viral infections.

Although multiple studies have shown that tea and its functional ingredients can inactivate the new coronavirus, this does not mean that drinking tea daily can prevent new coronavirus infection. First of all, most of these studies are in vitro experiments, which are different from the actual situation in the human body. Secondly, the concentration of tea's functional ingredients in biological tissues is a key factor in its antiviral activity, which depends on the bioavailability of tea, as well as the type, method and amount of tea drinking. "Although drinking tea in moderation is good for health, you can't rely solely on drinking tea to prevent and treat the new crown." Yang Zhanqiu reminded that the new coronavirus mainly enters the human body through respiratory inhalation and other routes. Therefore, it is very unlikely and far from enough to rely solely on drinking tea to prevent the new coronavirus. The truly effective preventive measures are still washing hands frequently, wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and frequently ventilating indoors.

In short, as a healthy drink, tea's antiviral effect deserves attention, but its effect should not be exaggerated. In preventing new coronavirus infection, we should maintain a rational attitude and take scientific and reasonable preventive measures. ‌▲

Editor: Pan Zihu

Editor-in-Chief: Xu Wenting