Tag: citrus peel

Posted on

Treatments vs ‘a cure’ – flashback to 2020

Vitamin C and Intravenous Vitamin C/Thiamine therapy for cytokine storm are treatments that have a long history of safe and effective use. In early 2020 even vitamin C was getting discredited by the media and FDA as helpful and allowed treatments for Covid19. The post Treatments vs ‘a cure’ was a response to online bickering about there being no ‘cure’ for Covid19 – the implication being it is wrong to talk about how vitamin C can help then.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for vascular health and most everything else in a functioning body, indirectly if not directly.

Treatment is about providing all of the care a person needs when their health function is over stressed and possibly dysfunctional in some ways due to inflammation or infection effects. Treatment is well rounded to support various needs and reduce various symptoms.

Looking for a single ‘cure’ is a medical model viewpoint, based on the success of antibiotics, but also the success in early research days when finding and providing vitamin C was a fairly quick “cure” for scurvy – a deadly disease that was found to be “Vitamin C deficiency“. In that case the treatment was the cure. Vitamin D for rickets was also an early wonder cure that helped children grow up with straight and strong leg bones. Vitamin D fortification of milk and infant formula helped reverse that trend. Sadly scurvy is still occurring occasionally and medical professionals miss the diagnosis and simple cure – provide vitamin C.

Scurvy – severe vitamin C deficiency: “The modern doctor must keep this ancient disease in mind, as it presents insidiously with debilitating repercussions, particularly in older people who are at a higher risk. It is easily treatable once detected.” (1)

In the post Treatments vs ‘a cure’, I took a close look at a molecular docking study (3) that had grouped potential inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 infection or replication into seven categories. I found that my selfcare treatments covered six of the seven categories, and citrus peel alone was potentially helping my infection selfcare in five of the seven ways. In total though I was using many items included in six of the seven categories. (3) SARS-CoV-2 can enter cells in many ways and spreads by exosomes – making many strategies necessary to block it or stop infected cells from remaining a latent infection.

The seven categories:

  1. PLpro inhibitors: “hesperidin and neohesperidin…might be the potential 3CLpro inhibitors and could probably be used for treating SARS-CoV-2.” (3) Citrus peel is a source of hesperidin and neohesperidin and vitamin C – L(+)-Ascorbic acid, quercetinoids, and other bioflavonoids like rutin. (13); Riboflavin-vitamin B2; Silybin – Milk Thistle; “…epigallocatechin gallate, [EGCG]…exhibited high binding affinity to PLpro protein, suggesting the potential utility of these compounds in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2.” (3) EGCG – pomegranate peel and/or green tea. EGCG also acts as a zinc ionophore when zinc is available. (11); (–)- Rosmarinic acid – rosemary.
  2. 3C-like main protease (3CLpro) inhibitors: metabolite of riboflavin, Flavin mononucleotide, which a high dose vitamin B2 supplement might provide as the metabolite; Lutein – kale and other vegetables; and also hesperidin, neohesperidin, and rosmarinic acid.
  3. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors: silybin – Milk Thistle.
  4. Helicase (Nsp13) inhibitors: hesperidin, neohesperidin and other flavonoids. “The natural products, such as many flavanoids from different sources (α-glucosyl hesperidin, hesperidin, rutin, quercetagetin 6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and homovitexin), …showed high binding affinity to this target.” (3) Rutin is found in green and black tea and a few other foods. Quercetagetin… seems to be a form of quercetin, which also can act as a zinc ionophore, (11) and is in citrus and pomegranate peel and many plants. Homovitexin is also called isovitexin and is found in cannabis and flaxseed and in a few other foods. (4)
  5. Targets inhibiting virus structural proteins: hesperidin, and “licoflavonol from Glycyrrhiza uralensis” -non DGL licorice root. “By superimposing the ACE2–RBD complex to the hesperidin–RBD complex, a distinct overlap of hesperidin with the interface of ACE2 could be observed (Fig. 6C), suggesting hesperidin may disrupt the interaction of ACE2 with RBD [the RBD section of the SPIKE protein]. ” (3)
  6. Targets inhibiting virulence factor: did not include any that I was taking.
  7. Targets blocking host specific receptor or enzymes: neohesperidin and hesperidin from Citrus aurantium again, the two phytonutrients are also in the peel of other citrus species. (5) “The natural products, such as phyllaemblicin G7 from Phyllanthus emblica, xanthones from the plants of Swertiagenus, neohesperidin and hesperidin from Citrus aurantium, exhibited potentially high binding affinity to ACE2 protein. ” (3) 

Hesperidin is in five of the seven categories; neohesperidin in four; and riboflavin, silybin and rosmarinic acid might help in two ways. Pomegranate peel phytonutrients likely also can help in numerous ways.

Treatments are needed for multifactorial problems, and SARS-CoV-2 or chimeric spike effects include multiple routes of possible harm. To ‘cure’ this – we need many treatments.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

Reference List

  1. Callus CA, Vella S, Ferry P. Scurvy is Back. Nutr Metab Insights. 2018 Nov 21;11:1178638818809097. doi: 10.1177/1178638818809097. PMID: 30479485; PMCID: PMC6249652. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30479485/
  2. J Depew, Treatments vs ‘a cure’, April 3, 2020, transcendingsquare.com, https://transcendingsquare.com/2020/04/03/treatments-vs-a-cure/
  3. Canrong Wu, Yang Liu, Yueying Yang, et al., Analysis of therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2 and discovery of potential drugs by computational methods. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, 27 February 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2020.02.008 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383520302999 * the genetic structure of the SARS-CoV(2) virus more closely matches the first, 2003, SARS-CoV virus in the way it can enter at ACE2 Receptors than it resembles the genetic structure of the coronavirus from bats native to China. There has also not been research support of the theory that the bat virus can infect humans as the shape does not fit the human ACE2 receptor: “…4 among the 5 most important amino acids (L465, L495, Y502, D510, and H514) that bind to ACE2 12 in Bat-CoV RaTG13 differ from SARS-CoV-2 (Fig. 3C). And there is no related research literature about whether Bat-CoV RaTG13 can infect human yet.”
  4. The other numbered references are on the original post. See 2 above. https://transcendingsquare.com/2020/04/03/treatments-vs-a-cure/
Posted on

Hesperidin and Quercetin content in Citrus peel.

Based on yield ranges in a review article (1), the whole citrus peel, colorful zest and white pith layers, contained across a variety of types of citrus, greater than 2000 micrograms/gram Fresh Weight (ug/gr FW) Quercetin Equivalents (group of similar chemicals), and 83-234 milligram/gram Fresh Weight (mg/gr FW) Hesperidin (for an average of 158.5 mg/gr FW). (1)

  • An average size navel orange weighed 212.18 grams, ~ 7.5 ounces
  • and yielded 32.48 gram orange zest peel, ~ 1 ounce
  • 32.30 white pith peel, ~ 1 ounce
  • 144.49 orange wedges, ~ 5.2 ounces
  • small amount of unusable trimmings.

The citrus peel may contain 64 milligrams of quercetin and 5120 milligrams of hesperidin in the whole peel – the original measurements were of whole citrus peel (1) so it is unknown how much the white pith contains in comparison to the orange zest layer which likely contains more of the bitter tasting phytonutrients. Hesperidin was reported as being most prevalent of flavonoids being measured and equivalent across thin and thick skinned citrus species suggesting that more is in the thin zest layer (the flavedo) than the thick white pith layer (the albedo). (1, 4)

The white pith layer would likely contain a majority of the beneficial fiber and pectin, which makes up 64% of the whole peel of oranges, (1), or at least 21 grams of the yield of white pith or the orange zest in this example would be fiber/pectin. The jam in the last post had thickened even without the added pectin which led to it being too firm of a gel.

Citrus peel, the white pith, albedo layer, and the orange zest, flavedo layer, with the orange.

Health benefits may be provided from both types but in varying concentration. When I am feeling congested the pith of the whole orange is enough to clear the congestion and to help me breath more clearly again. See this post: Bitter taste receptors in the lungs & Hesperidin’s decongestant properties. Some of the zest is remaining on the white pith layer in small amounts too, but it is potent in flavor. The citrus peel jam in the last post is stronger in flavor than the white pith and a generous spoonful is plenty for a serving, and I usually mix it with other foods rather than eating it all at once.

The orange zest when minced made about a quarter cup/25 grams so the amount of 2 1/2 cups citrus zest in the jam recipe may have 250 grams potentially containing the majority of the 5120 mg of hesperidin per ounce – roughly 5000 x 10 1/4 cups = 50,000 mg for the 6 cup yield, 8,330 mg/cup or 1040 mg per two tablespoon serving of the Citrus Fig Marmalade/Jam, last post.

How much might be too much hesperidin? roughly about 28 oranges if 5120 milligrams were available with each pith layer of the peel that is eaten – however just one or two oranges per day, spaced out across the day, were good for my symptoms of congestion while I was ill, or when I am congested with spring allergies. The potentially Lethal Dose for 50% of lab animals for hesperidin, the LD50 dose, is 2000 mg/Kg. (2)

Hesperidin, rutin, citrus bioflavonoids are mildly estrogenic (so is resveratrol) and may be helpful against endometrial cancer. (2) Hesperidin may help against endometrial cancer cells by down-regulating estrogen receptors/progesterone & increasing apoptosis of the tumorous cells. (5) Bioflavonoids also seem to help reduce risk of Metabolic Syndrome, and related problems of obesity, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance, and reduce risk of cardiovascular problems. (3, 4, 6) Hesperidin can help reduce capillary fragility (6) – potentially preventing microvascular hemorrhages. More about the potential anti-viral and other health benefits of hesperidin and citrus bioflavonoids is in the post: Bitter taste receptors in the lungs & Hesperidin’s decongestant properties.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use. It is not intended to provide individual guidance. Please seek a health care provider for individualized health care guidance.

Reference List

  1. Shafiya Rafiqa, Rajkumari Kaula, S.A.Sofi, et al., Citrus Peel as a Source of Functional Ingredient: A Review, J Saudi Society of Ag Sci, 17;4, Oct 2018, pp 351-358, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1658077X16300960
  2. Chapter 76 – Cardiovascular Effects of Hesperidin: A Flavanone Glycoside. Polyphenols in Human Health and Disease. Vol 2, 2014, pp 989-992. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123984562000761
  3. Assini JM, Mulvihill EE, Huff MW. Citrus flavonoids and lipid metabolism. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2013 Feb;24(1):34-40. doi: 10.1097/MOL.0b013e32835c07fd. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23254473
  4. Bobbie Randall, RD. Citrus Albedo is Better Than You Thought, Jan 22, 2020, delgazette.com, https://www.delgazette.com/opinion/81450/citrus-albedo-is-better-than-you-thought
  5. Cincin ZB, Kiran B, Baran Y, B.Cakmakoglu. Hesperidin promotes programmed cell death by downregulation of nongenomic estrogen receptor signalling pathway in endometrial cancer cells. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Vol 103, July 2018, pp 336-345 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0753332217332407
  6. Hesperidin/ScienceDirect, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/hesperidin CITRUS FRUITS | Processed and Derived Products of Oranges C.M. Lanza, in Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition (Second Edition), 2003 // A Review of the Effects of Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) and Its Flavonoids, Naringin, and Naringenin in Metabolic Syndrome Bibi Marjan Razavi, Hossein Hosseinzadeh, in Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes (Second Edition), 2019
Posted on

Citrus & Fig Marmalade Jam

Figs are also rich in quercetin (1) and pomegranate peel also contains significant amounts of the phytonutrient, (2). Quercetin can act as a zinc ionophore when zinc is present and carry the zinc into infected or cancerous cells where the zinc disrupts replication, see the last post, and Treatments vs ‘a cure’.

Orange Marmalade is a sweet jam made from citrus juice and peel. I made a modified low sugar version using the orange zest part of the orange peel that I had been removing when eating an orange with the white pith left on (see last post – it acts as a decongestant fairly quickly when eaten in that large of an amount (the whole orange with the white pith layer left on).

*This was an initial attempt and turned out too thick – just skip the jam part of the recipe if you want to simply make a fruit sauce preserve. Freeze the amount that you won’t be able to use fresh within a week or two as low sugar fruit sauces or jam are more likely to spoil – the large amount of sugar makes jams and jellies less likely to spoil. See: How does sugar act as a preservative? (sciencefocus.com) However if the goal is a way to preserve citrus peel for antiviral benefits than low sugar is going to be more supportive of immune function than a full sugar product.

— the point is not a recipe – the point is demonstrating a way to save time and preserve a large batch of outer citrus peel at once so small amounts can be used throughout the day and keep congestion cleared. Fruit preserves can be a mix as the jam package suggests and the basic ratios and which fruits might be more similar in acidity are grouped together on the instruction sheet pectin package.

*simpler way to get bioflavonoids in the diet of many people at once -add powdered citrus bioflavonoids citrus bioflavonoid powder to applesauce or yogurt or a smoothie type beverage or a breakfast porridge or soup. It is available in varied concentration. The preserved citrus jam could be used in a similar way but might be stronger in flavor than a concentrated powder.

I also had some fresh pomegranate peel on hand which I had peeled the outer more tannin rich layer from, (4), and an eight ounce package of dried figs and one pear for sweetness and to reduce the acidity somewhat.

Stevia is an herbal alternative sweetener which also has health benefits, including activation of the p53 protein, (3, also discussed in the last post), and I used a low sugar pectin mix that uses calcium to aid in gelling, Pomona’s Universal Pectin. It includes basic recipes that you can modify depending on your available fruit and sugar preferences. So without going into the specific jam details, here is a list of ingredients that I used, roughly estimating it as a double batch, however it thickened readily and I could have used pectin and calcium for one batch. (pomonapectin.com)

The cardamom powder and pomegranate peel cause the darker color, Citrus peel and fig would likely look more like a traditional orange marmalade.

Citrus Fig Savory Marmalade: Ingredient list (trial 1)

  • 2 1/2 cups minced orange peel
  • 1 1/2 cups minced inner pomegranate peel
  • 1 cup pear, peeled and minced
  • 1 1/2 cups figs, stem removed and minced, (8 ounce package dried)
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon cardamom, powdered spice
  • 1 cup brown sugar – added to the stewing fruit, simmer gently to preserve phytonutrients, approximately 20 minutes to soften the citrus peel.
  • 6 tablespoons lime or lemon juice, bottled – for a double batch following the Pomona’s directions
  • 2 tablespoons of the calcium water solution – for a double batch
  • 1 cup Stevia sugar substitute with 1/2 cup = 1 cup sugar – measure into a separate bowl and mix in the pectin powder – to add to the fruit at the end, stir in thoroughly and let simmer for 1-2 additional minutes
  • 3 tablespoons of the Pomona’s pectin, (pomonapectin.com)

The jam cooled to a firm consistency, I could have used a single batch of lime juice, calcium water, and pectin. It made six cups which I froze most of and will keep the rest in the refrigerator as low sugar jams are more likely to mold/spoil than full sugar jam – the large amount of sugar acts as a preservative as it is too concentrated for bacteria to grow in, though mold may still occur. See: How does sugar act as a preservative? (sciencefocus.com)

The jam is mildly sweet and slightly spicy with the cardamom which also may have some antiviral and anticancer benefits by helping activate the p53 protein, which is involved in apoptosis – the killing and safe removal of infected or cancerous cells by our white blood cells. (6)

In addition to using a spoonful on toast, it is good added to a breakfast hot cereal or yogurt and would be easy to add to a cookie recipe if fresh orange peel isn’t available, see previous post: Dark Chocolate Orange Peel Cookies – Recipe.

Health can taste delicious. The taste buds will become more sensitive to the natural sweetness in foods after eating a lower sugar diet for a while.

The following is a series of jam/jelly recipes using citrus and pomegranate peel (fresh and/or dried/powdered). Both citrus and pomegranate peel have anti-inflammatory and other health benefits including antiviral properties.

The simplest way to prepare citrus peel for later use would be to mince the washed peel (collected over a few days in the refrigerator), and simmer it with water and a little brown sugar and possibly a spoonful of coconut oil or butter to help draw out fat soluble phytonutrients.

In a sauce pan bring the orange peel, 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil & 1 tablespoon of stevia to a boil and remove from heat. (From Dark Chocolate Citrus peel Cookies recipe)

Citrus Plum: Ingredient list (trials 3 & 3.2)

  • 1 1/2-2 cups minced orange peel
  • 1 1/2 cups minced inner pomegranate peel and/or 6 tablespoons powdered dehydrated pomegranate, inner peel
  • 2 cups plums, minced
  • 1 cup prunes, minced,
  • 3 cups water – if more or less fresh fruit is available then adjust the water up/down to make up the difference, leaving a cup to simmer the citrus peel for a few minutes initially with the brown sugar, before adding the fresh plums and other ingredients.
  • 1-2 teaspoon cardamom, powdered spice
  • 1 cup brown sugar – added to the stewing fruit, simmer gently to preserve phytonutrients, approximately 20 minutes to soften the citrus peel.
  • 6 tablespoons lime/lemon juice, bottled, or 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of the calcium water solution – for a double batch
  • 1 cup Stevia sugar substitute with 1/2 cup = 1 cup sugar – measure into a separate bowl and mix in the pectin powder – to add to the fruit at the end, stir in thoroughly and let simmer for 1-2 additional minutes
  • 2 teaspoons of the Pomona’s pectin, (pomonapectin.com), if the 6 tablespoons of powdered dried pomegranate inner peel is used. The fresh pomegranate peel and citrus peel have pectin type fiber and less additional pectin may be needed to thicken the jam or jelly made with it, however the powdered dried peel is more thickening. Some additional pectin still seems to be needed for a full gel reaction
The fruit jam can be made into a chocolate sauce or thicker ganache that can be used as a cookie or cake filling or frosting, or be made into chocolate truffle candies.

Citrus Chocolate Ganache/Fudge sauce

Simmer one-two cups of the citrus plum jam in a double boiler, – metal bowl that fits in a sauce pan that has a couple inches of simmering hot water – and add one teaspoon of vanilla, (optional), and one tablespoon coconut oil per cup of jam, stir until it is mixed in evenly, and then add 1/4 cup cocoa powder per cup of jam, stir until the powder is all incorporated into the chocolate fudge mixture. It will be lumpy because of the fruit pieces but the chocolate sauce should mix into a chocolate-y smoothness where there isn’t fruit pieces.

Whether the mixture will be a thin or thick sauce or a frosting like ganache texture depends on the ratio of cocoa powder to liquid that you use. Pomegranate juice could be used to thin the ganache if a sauce were needed. Thicker ganache can be rolled into truffle like dessert candies, coated with cocoa powder to prevent stickiness. Store and serve chilled from the refrigerator or freezer.

Chocolate citrus peel truffles (without a solid chocolate coating added).

Pomegranate Jelly, made with powdered pomegranate peel (and violets) – ingredient list

  • 6 tablespoons powdered dehydrated pomegranate, inner peel
  • 4 cups pomegranate juice
  • 1 cup violets, (optional) rinsed and drained gently
  • 1 cup brown sugar – added to the stewing fruit,
  • 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar or lime/lemon/juice (I was making a citrus free batch for people with allergy).
  • 2 tablespoons of the calcium water solution (if using Pomona’s Pectin)-
  • 1 cup Stevia sugar substitute with 1/2 cup = 1 cup sugar – measure into a separate bowl and mix in the pectin powder – to add to the fruit at the end, stir in thoroughly and let simmer for 1-2 additional minutes
  • 2 teaspoons of the Pomona’s pectin, (pomonapectin.com), if the 6 tablespoons of powdered dried pomegranate inner peel is used. The fresh pomegranate peel and citrus peel have pectin type fiber and less additional pectin may be needed to thicken the jam or jelly made with it, however the powdered dried peel is more thickening. Some additional pectin still seems to be needed for a full gel reaction
Pomegranate Jelly, made with powdered pomegranate inner peel, and violets (peppery). It was good served hot over a vegetable salad. Jam and jelly can be used as a tangy extra along with an entree (mint jelly and lamb, cranberry gelatin with turkey, chutney with Indian meals).
Purple violets and white with purple centers. If using edible flowers for cooking or fresh avoid chemically treated lawns or flowerbeds and private property or public lands.
More violets than lawn.

*Why violets? – they contain a fragrance phytonutrients that may help protect against retinal deterioration common with aging, and increase melanin production in the skin, helping protect against skin cancer potentially. How many violets is a serving? They are peppery, I enjoy eating a a few at a time.

Reference List

  1. Brian, 93 Quercetin Rich Foods, 2 October 2018, MyIntakePro.com https://myintakepro.com/blog/quercetin-rich-foods/ via @HiperacusiaCAT
  2. X. Zhao, Z. Yuan, Y. Fang, Y. Yin, and L. Feng, Flavonols and Flavones Changes in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Fruit Peel during Fruit Development. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (2014) Vol. 16: 1649-1659, http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1021.8526&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  3. Chen J, Xia Y, Sui X, et al. Steviol, a natural product inhibits proliferation of the gastrointestinal cancer cells intensively. Oncotarget. 2018;9(41):26299–26308. Published 2018 May 29. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.25233 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5995179/
  4. J. Depew, G13. Pomegranate – Health Benefits and Preparation, effectivecare.info, https://effectivecare.info/g13-pomegranate
  5. Divya Sehgal, How does sugar act as a preservative?, sciencefocus.com, https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/how-does-sugar-act-as-a-preservative/
  6. Yu‐Jen Jou Chao‐Jung Chen Yu‐Ching Liu, et al., Quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis reveals γ‐bisabolene inducing p53‐mediated apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma via HDAC2 inhibition and ERK1/2 activation. Proteomics, 15;19, Oct 2015, pp 3296-3309, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26194454
Posted on

Bitter taste receptors in the lungs & Hesperidin’s decongestant properties.

How did citrus peel help my symptoms? In several ways it turns out, potentially. Antiviral actions, decongestant ability within the lungs, and by reducing the risk of blood clot formation within the lungs as the viral load increases and more tissue damage has occurred.

The antiviral capabilities were mentioned in previous posts – hesperidin and neohesperidin may act as antivirals in several ways, the vitamin C also, and quercetin can act as a zinc ionophore. Zinc ionophores are like chemical taxi-cabs – carrying zinc into infected cells preferentially where the zinc then disrupts the viral replication. (this post) No viral replication, no cell bursting to release them to infect other cells, and so on, in an exponentially increasing level of viral load and dead cells for the patient. The dead cell contents can also become a health risk when occurring in too great a quantity for white blood cells to collect it all for safe detoxification and removal at lymph nodes and by the kidneys.

Decongestant action is due to the bitterness of the hesperidin, neohesperidin, and probably other bitter tasting phytonutrients in citrus peel, and also quinine & chloroquines (also bitter tasting). (19) Think of taste or other sensory receptors that can do a variety of different things depending on where they are located and what they are connected to. Receptors are like tiny machines, activate the keyhole/puzzle piece opening with the matching chemical agonist, or inhibit with the matching chemical antagonist, and then the machine will do something if activated, or not do something or stop doing something if inhibited.

The chloroquines and quinines were found to help relax the airway in people with asthma, and increase movement of mucus out of the lungs. Activation of the bitter taste receptors on immune cells led to reduced production of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. (19)

Taste receptors on the tongue would be connected to nerve cells that tell the brain a bitter taste or other flavor type was sensed and that information would be used to eat more if hungry for the taste or to stop eating if satisfied. Taste receptors for sweet carbohydrates are much less sensitive, more of the sweet taste is needed to activate them, than bitter taste receptors, by a magnitude of thousands – one or a few molecules of a bitter substance might activate the taste bud in the mouth, while thousands of sweet molecules might be needed to activate the sweet taste receptor. Sour is somewhere in between in the amount of sour molecules needed to activate sour taste receptors.

In other areas of the body sensory receptors may be attached to other chemical pathways instead of to nerves that go to the brain. Within the lungs there are many bitter taste receptors which when activated signal the mucus lining of the lung cells to make thinner mucus and to increase the motion of the cilia. Cilia are hair like or tail like projections lining the cell walls that can all work together in a wave like motion to move mucus and any dust or virus or other infectious microbes up and out of the lungs. (2)

“Stimulation of these receptors by known bitter compounds activates calcium-dependent nitric oxide (NO) production that increases phosphorylation of ciliary proteins through protein kinase G (PKG). This increases ciliary beat frequency to facilitate the movement mucus out of the airway by increasing mucociliary transport rates. The generated NO also diffuses into the airway surface liquid & acts as an antibacterial defense mechanism. NO damages bacterial cell walls & DNA & may also damage fungal pathogens & inactivate viral proteins .” (Freund & Lee, 2)

Non-productive cough, a dry cough, feeling like something is in the lungs but you just can’t cough it out is part of the typical symptoms of COVID19/SARS-CoV2 infections for people who get sick rather than being asymptomatic carriers*. (*see footnote) To be able to have thin mucus that is protective, able to be traveled through easily by our mobile line of defense – the white blood cells, we need to have adequate water, and electrolytes (ions) within the cells: magnesium and potassium, and outside of the cells: sodium and calcium. Providing magnesium as a supplement (300 mg/day) helped thin mucus for patients with the genetic condition Cystic Firbrosis which causes chronic excess lung congestion. (16)

“Mucus is more than 95% water, making water and ions just as important for controlling mucus properties .” (1)

If a person also is having nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea, at the same time or in progressive stages, then dehydration and electrolyte deficiencies may become a significant problem, even life-threatening if severe. See this post (ACE2…) for digestive tips, and this one for a way to bypass malabsorption of magnesium with a topical source that can be absorbed through hair follicles (which is how ancient people would have gotten plenty – fresh water sources uses to be rich in magnesium).

To activate the bitter taste receptors that help with forming healthy thin mucus and help activate the wave like motion of the cilia we would need to have some bitter chemicals that match the bitter taste receptors found in great quantity within lung tissue. Hesperidin is a tasteless chemical found in citrus peel, with a bitter tasting chemical side chain, (3), and neohesperidin, a similar flavonoid, likely is obviously bitter in taste. (26)

“Hesperidin, a flavonoid present in many citrus fruits, provides an example of a multi-domain compound. This molecule was found to contain eight of the substructures that form the nodes of the tree, and a selection of these are given in Figure 6. Of the eight node substructures contained within hesperidin, only one contains a significant proportion of known bitter molecules.” (3)

Anticoagulant action: The vitamin C and flavonoids in citrus peel can also help prevent blood clot formation which in more severely ill patients with COVID19 infections has been found to be part of the mortality risk. (4) Prevention is important – strengthen capillary walls to prevent microvascular damage that can lead to blood collecting and forming clots which then may block larger blood vessels and cause stroke like damage to larger areas of tissue.

More detail about this problem is available in a document with a revised Marik Protocol for treatment of ARDS with Vitamin C Infusion (and contains thiamine, vitamin B1 which may also be needed in greater quantity during a severe infection response, see this document 14, and 15). The revision recommendations are based on COVID19 treatment in China and elsewhere – the lung problems are not typical of ARDS and patients likely need more oxygen than pressure from the ventilator support or worse lung damage may result. (evms.edu/EVMS_Critical_Care_COVID-19_Protocol.pdf) (8)

Important Recommendation for Earlier Treatment for patients suspected of having a COVID19 infection – for homecare/outpatient prescriptions:

The evms.edu pdf includes a recommendation for nutrients to be used as a prevention before infection, and at home for early treatment (see the pdf for that list). Here is their recommendation for prevention dosing:

  • Vitamin C 500 mg BID and Quercetin 250-500 mg BID
  • Zinc 75-100 mg/day (acetate, gluconate or picolinate). Zinc lozenges are preferred. After 1-2 months, reduce the dose to 30-50 mg/day.
  • Melatonin (slow release): Begin with 0.3mg and increase as tolerated to 1-2 mg at night
  • Vitamin D3 1000-4000 u/day (optimal dose unknown). Likely that those with baseline low 25- OH vitamin D levels and those > living at 40o latitude will benefit the most.
  • (evms.edu/EVMS_Critical_Care_COVID-19_Protocol.pdf) (8)
  • Food sources of Quercetin include dock, sorrel, cilantro/coriander leaves, radicchio, kale, watercress, asparagus, onions, and okra: (graphic, via @HiperacusiaCAT), in addition to being found in citrus peel. (23)
  • Quercetin and EGCG are both are zinc ionophores that can carry zinc into infected cells preferentially where the zinc disrupts viral replication, and they may also have direct antiviral effects by inhibiting proteins that are important to the virus. The two phytonutrients may be even more effective at inhibiting the SARS-CoV2/COVID19 proteins than hydroxychloroquine and remsdivar medications based on computer modeling of the molecular shapes of the viral proteins, medications, and phytonutrients. (24)

Early treatment is critical due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing loss of iron from hemoglobin within red blood cells. In later stages of viral replication the lack of functioning hemoglobin alone causes lung damage due to the lack of oxygen. (20) Simply providing extra oxygen can’t help if there is too little functional hemoglobin. Providing blood transfusions with healthy red blood cells might be helpful – preventing the virus from replicating to that point would be better. *This theory was based on computer modeling and has not been verified. (25) The symptom of red blood cell’s having hemoglobin that is unable to transport oxygen is present in symptomatic Covid-19 illness, the theory about why iron is shifted out of hemoglobin was flawed.

Anemia of inflammation (post) could be the reason: the cytokine IL-6 causes an increase in hepcidin, which causes an increased movement of iron out of molecules of hemoglobin in red blood cells, or available for the growing red blood cells still within bone marrow, and into intracellular storage where it can overload the ability to keep it from oxidizing other chemicals and can lead to cell death. Pathogens also need iron so the strategy is a defense mechanism of the body that can become dangerous if the response becomes excessive. See the post Anemia of Chronic Inflammation, IL-6, Hepcidin, Iron, and Vitamin C, for more information.

A different group is recommending to the FDA to fast track approval for preventive, early treatment with zinc and an anti-malarial and an antibiotic that are fairly available and have a long history of use, so risks and dosing have been studied. “It’s important to note that HCQ, zinc, and azithromycin are very well understood drugs with clear safety profiles; they are widely available, generic, inexpensive, and can be scaled rapidly, including to the developing world, which would be expedited by US leadership in recommendations.” More is included in the second half of this post about the zinc and anti-malarial medication and other food/phytonutrient zinc ionophores which include quercetin. See this document for the recommendation to the FDA: (Immediate Treatment for Early Stage SARS-CoV-2 Infections). via (13)

Safety considerations of nutrient/phytonutrient Zinc Ionophore: Quercetin in very large doses may affect kidney health negatively (I can’t find a dose for that) however in an animal based study quercetin was protective of kidney health at a dose that would be about 360-720 milligrams per day for an adult weighing about 160 pounds (5-10 mg/Kg was provided to the experimental animals). (6) The amount of quercetin used as a zinc ionophore by a Canadian team may be 500 mg taken three times per day during or prior to suspected viral infection – but I can’t find the specific dosing. Zinc can be taken in larger amounts (~15-30 mg) for a few weeks but can collect in the body to excessive levels over time. Symptoms of chronic excess might include a decrease in immune function and copper deficiency may occur as the two trace minerals can affect each other (an excess of copper can cause a zinc deficiency). (Symptoms of excess Zinc, 7)

Bonus – Circadian cycles affect immune function – because bonuses are nice – another way phytonutrients, including hesperidin (9), may be helping immune function is by tipping the body towards the anti-inflammatory night-time chemistry and away from the daytime, stress response, inflammatory pathways.

And the bigger picture take-home-point from that is sleep is important for immune function and the sleep needs to have a complete blackout level of lighting for the body to be able to switch over to the anti-inflammatory action of an ancient dark night. We make more melatonin if we get some full spectrum daylight during daytime/wake hours and have complete darkness at nighttime – so a sleep eyemask or folded piece of soft clothing like a Tshirt draped over the eyes may help health. During my untested CoV-19 like illness I did have light sensitivity headaches and found sleeping or resting with a cloth over my eyes to be helpful.

Melatonin is a hormone that helps reduce inflammatory pathways that result in increased cytokines, and inflammasomes such as NLRP3 (10) which has been associated with worse prognosis for patients with COVID19. the role of NLRP3 activity in SARS-CoV (2003 strain) has been a subject of research. (12)

An animal study on oxidative damage from a type of cancer treatment: “Oral treatment with melatonin gel had a protective effect in the small intestine, which was associated with mitochondrial protection and, consequently, with a reduced inflammatory response, blunting the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling activation.” (10)

Phytonutrients that might inhibit NLRP3 and/or increase p53 activity.

Other phytonutrients including quercetin which is found in citrus peel, also can help inhibit production or activity of the inflammatory NLRP3 inflammasome. Sulfarophane (broccoli, etc), resveratrol (grape skins, etc), EGCG (green tea, pomegranate peel), curcumin (turmeric/curry powder), gensenoside (ginseng), emodin (aloe vera gel), mangiferin (mango) and genipin (from a fruit used as a Traditional Chinese Medicinal) are also phytonutrients that may reduce activity or production of NLRP3 inflammasomes. (17)

Increasing activity of a protein called p53 seems to help inhibit the production or activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Phytonutrients and nutrients that may promote p53 activity also include zinc, artemisinin (wormwood herb), goldenseal (berberine, also found in a few other herbs), Black seed oil (Nigella sativa), ginger (6-gingerol), feverfew, chamomile, and cordyceps mushrooms. (18) Replication of human coronaviruses and the SARS-CoV-1,(2003 strain) virus has been found to be inhibited by p53 and have also been found to cause the production of an additional protein that leads to breakdown of the p53 protein which may help explain the dysfunction of immune function in more severe infections. (21, 22)

Inactivating the NLRP3 inflammasome seems to have anti-inflammatory benefits (17) that may help prevent age related changes. It is an area of research being pursued for pharmaceutical development. (11) Sleep masks/pitch blackness during sleep, with the alarm clock and light leaking in the window covered, could help your body inactivate the NLRP3 inflammasome on a nightly basis with no ongoing copay. Options exist and are worth trying in an order of least toxicity risk to greater toxicity risk.

*Asymptomatic carriers: In some people the virus replicates somewhat but not to the point of much cell damage – not growing exponentially to the point of the patient’s life being threatened. Instead the virus seems to just become dormant within some cells and the person isn’t even aware they are sick – a symbiotic host/parasite relationship assures the parasite goes on living – in a living host – which is not abnormal, we typically have virus in us that can even provide some health benefits possibly – symbiotic means benefits both the host and the parasite, but not enough is known about this area of study – called our virome, (5), instead of microbiome.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use. It is not intended to provide individual guidance. Please seek a health care provider for individualized health care guidance.

Reference List

  1. Hansson GC. Mucus and mucins in diseases of the intestinal and respiratory tracts. J Intern Med. 2019;285(5):479–490. doi:10.1111/joim.12910 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6497544/
  2. Jenna R. Freund, Robert J.Lee, Taste receptors in the upper airway. World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 4;1, March 2018, pp 67-76 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095881118300167
  3. Sarah Rodgers, Johanneke Busch, Hans Peters, Elly Christ-Hazelhof, Building a Tree of Knowledge: Analysis of Bitter Molecules. https://academic.oup.com/chemse/article/30/7/547/360693
  4. Here’s the Damage Coronavirus (COVID-19) Can Do to Your Lungs. March 20, 2020, health.clevelandclinic.org, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/heres-the-damage-coronavirus-covid-19-can-do-to-your-lungs/
  5. Virgin HW. The virome in mammalian physiology and disease. Cell. 2014;157(1):142–150. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2014.02.032 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3977141/
  6. Yang H, Song Y, Liang YN, Li R. Quercetin Treatment Improves Renal Function and Protects the Kidney in a Rat Model of Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease. Med Sci Monit. 2018;24:4760–4766. Published 2018 Jul 10. doi:10.12659/MSM.909259 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6069490/
  7. Too much Zinc: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments, MedicalNewsToday.com, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326760#symptoms
  8. EVMS Critical Care COVID-19 Management Protocol, *Marik protocol revised, evms.edu https://www.evms.edu/media/evms_public/departments/internal_medicine/EVMS_Critical_Care_COVID-19_Protocol.pdf
  9. A. Manjula, R. Subashini, R. Punitha & P. Subramanian (2017) Modulating effects of hesperidin on circadian pattern indices of rotenone induced redox homeostasis in clock mutant (cryb) of Drosophila melanogaster, Biological Rhythm Research, 48:6, 897-906, DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2017.1319641 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09291016.2017.1319641?journalCode=nbrr20
  10. Beatriz Fernández-Gil, Ahmed EA Moneim, Francisco Ortiz, et al, Melatonin protects rats from radiotherapy-induced small intestine toxicity. PLOS One, April 12, 2017 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174474 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174474
  11. Hannah Balfour, NLRP3 inflammasome ‘off switch’ reverses effects of chronic inflammation. Feb 6, 2020, drugtargetreview.com, https://www.drugtargetreview.com/news/55776/nlrp3-inflammasome-off-switch-reverses-effects-of-chronic-inflammation/
  12. I-Yin Chen, Miyu Moriyama, Ming-Fu Chang and Takeshi Ichinohe, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Viroporin 3a Activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00050/full
  13. Immediate Treatment for Early Stage SARS-CoV-2 Infections. via Avery J. Knapp, Jr. MD (https://twitter.com/aknappjr/status/1247497984431943680?s=20) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ka76CL50hR_a0b5oIhEAVY4gfyqkJcBxXBcP0r2nrz0/edit?fbclid=IwAR0ss1p0lsPhLkSFhO6_8vJK19BUispAREVcn0oi09iajG-Pq4HDCMFTQdg
  14. James Ludell, Operation CAI-Reducing Peak Load on Hospitals from COVD-19, April 5, 2020, last updat April 10, 2020, (father of a child with a rare condition for which high dose thiamine helps – making him a very well-informed patient advocate sharing information that typically would not be used/studied for standard patient care – but can be helpful for critically ill and/or malnourished patients, see 15), https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vnYosVsgChnGVecOXp96T5i2UibTsnHVaDUVF6Us2uM/edit?usp=sharing
  15. Manzanares W, Hardy G. Thiamine supplementation in the critically ill. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2011;14(6):610–617. doi:10.1097/MCO.0b013e32834b8911 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21912244/
  16. Magnesium Clears up Mucus and Improves Breathing in Cystic Fibrosis Patients. Feb 10, 2014, Natural Health Research Institute, naturalhealthresearch.org, https://www.naturalhealthresearch.org/magnesium-mucus-cystic-fibrosis/
  17. József Tőzsér and Szilvia Benkő, Natural Compounds as Regulators of NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated IL-1β Production. Mediators of Inflammation, 2016, Article ID 5460302, 16 pages, https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5460302 https://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2016/5460302/
  18. Pack GL, Natural Promotion of p53 Protein Activity. Dr. Pack’s Summary #763, Rainbow Grocery, San Francisco, CA, USA. https://www.rainbow.coop/library/natural-promotion-of-p53-protein-activity/
  19. Nayak AP, Shah SD, Michael JV, Deshpande DA. Bitter Taste Receptors for Asthma Therapeutics. Front Physiol. 2019;10:884. Published 2019 Jul 16. doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00884 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6647873/
  20. *This paper has been found to have flaws in the interpretation. (25) Wenzhong Liu, Hualan Li, COVID-19: Attacks the 1Beta Chain of Hemoglobin and Captures the Porphyrin to Inhibit Human Heme Metabolism. covid19-2020004-9-EN.pdf ChemRxiv, https://chemrxiv.org/articles/COVID-19_Disease_ORF8_and_Surface_Glycoprotein_Inhibit_Heme_Metabolism_by_Binding_to_Porphyrin/11938173
  21. LMU Press Release, contact person Dr. Albrecht von Brunn, How a Tumor Suppressor Indirectly Inhibits Coronaviruses. Aug 12, 2016, DZIF German Center for Infection Research, https://www.dzif.de/en/how-tumor-suppressor-indirectly-inhibits-coronaviruses
  22. Yue Ma-Lauer, Javier Carbajo-Lozoya, Marco Y. Hein, et al., p53 down-regulates SARS coronavirus replication and is targeted by the SARS-unique domain and PLpro via E3 ubiquitin ligase RCHY1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aug 2016, 201603435; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1603435113 https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/08/11/1603435113.abstract
  23. Shafiya Rafiqa, Rajkumari Kaula, S.A.Sofi, et al., Citrus Peel as a Source of Functional Ingredient: A Review, J Saudi Society of Ag Sci, 17;4, Oct 2018, pp 351-358, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1658077X16300960
  24. Michael Lustgarten, Coronavirus – Can Diet Help?, April 11, 2020, michaellustgarten.com, https://michaellustgarten.com/2020/04/11/sars-cov-2-can-diet-help-in-the-fight/
  25. Randy J Read, Flawed methods in“COVID-19: Attacks the 1-Beta Chain of Hemoglobin and Captures the Porphyrin to Inhibit Human Heme Metabolism” ChemRxiv.org, https://chemrxiv.org/articles/Flawed_methods_in_COVID-19_Attacks_the_1-Beta_Chain_of_Hemoglobin_and_Captures_the_Porphyrin_to_Inhibit_Human_Heme_Metabolism_/12120912
  26. Adam Drewnowski, Carmen Gomez-Carneros, Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and the consumer: a review, Amer J of Clinical Nutrition, 72;6, December 2000, Pages 1424–1435, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/72.6.1424 https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/72/6/1424/4729430 Addition – “neohesperidoside, and neohesperidin are very bitter, whereas hesperidin is tasteless “