The Neem tree is well known for its medicinal properties. Now new research shows it may help in treating coronavirus.

According to a new study done by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, an extract from the bark of the neem tree helps in treating and reducing the spread of coronavirus.

The study, published in the journal Virology, shows that components of Neem bark may target a wide range of viral proteins, suggesting its potential as an antiviral agent against emerging variants of coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2).

In India, the Neem tree has been used for thousands of years for its anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial and antiviral properties. The bark extract is used to treat malaria, stomach and intestinal ulcers, skin diseases and many other ailments.

“The goal of this research is to develop a Neem-based medication that can reduce the risk of serious illness when someone is infected with coronaviruses,” said study co-author Maria Nagel, MD, research professor in the department of neurology and ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

“We hope that scientists won’t have to continuously develop new therapies every time a new SARS-CoV-2 variant emerges,” she said. “Just like how we take penicillin for strep throat, we envision taking the Neem-based drug for COVID, allowing us to resume our normal lives without fear of hospitalization and death,” she added.

The scientists investigated the impact of the bark extract against coronaviruses in their laboratories. In India, researchers tested it on animal models and showed that it had antiviral properties against coronavirus. Using computer modelling, the researchers predicted that Neem bark extract will bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at various locations, preventing virus entry to host cells.

At CU Anschutz, Nagel’s lab tested the Neem bark extract in SARS-CoV-2 human lung cells. It proved as effective as a preventive drug for infection. It decreased virus replication and spread after infection.

“The next step in our research is to identify the specific components in Neem bark extract that are antiviral. Because these components bind to various regions of SARS-CoV-2, we believe that it will be effective on emerging variants with spike mutations,” said Nagel. “We will then determine the formulation of dosage for an antiviral drug to treat coronavirus infections,” she added.

According to the scientists involved in the study, new research could guide new antiviral therapeutic efforts to combat the ongoing pandemic, while holding out the promise for treating new coronavirus strains.