A plant used by indigenous peoples of the Amazon to treat skin diseases could become a medicine or vaccine against Zika. The nanoemulsion – a mixture of tiny liquid droplets – of copaiba oil, developed and tested by researchers at the Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), has proven to be effective in combating the disease.
Details about the study, funded by FAPESP, were published in the scientific journal One Plus.
Copaiba oil against zika
- Initial tests with the copaiba oil nanoemulsion confirmed that Zika-infected cells are capable of absorbing the substance.
- In the following experiments, it was compared with a mixture without the oil.
- Both had antiviral effects, but the version with the oil reached 80% inhibition capacity, while the one without it reached 70%.
- The nanoemulsion with a higher oil concentration also improved the antiviral inhibition capacity in the following tests.
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Future investigations
The research results indicate that the oil may enhance the antiviral capacity of future medications or vaccines against Zika. However, researchers still have questions. The oil-free nanoemulsion also showed antiviral activity. However, part of this effect may be due to the presence of other substances. Furthermore, researchers still do not know exactly how Zika replication is prevented by the nanoemulsion.
The study coordinator explains to Agência FAPESP that, with more data, it will be possible to determine how a future medicine could be used.
How to protect yourself from Zika?
Currently, there is no vaccine against Zika, so it is important to prevent it in other ways. The disease virus is transmitted by the well-known Aedes aegypti, which also transmits dengue fever. So, to prevent this, you need to follow the recommendations to combat mosquitoes: avoid standing water, that is, accumulation in gutters, open water tanks, slabs, tires and vases.
If you experience symptoms such as sudden fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and body pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, as well as itching and red spots on the skin, seek medical attention immediately.
