Put Insomnia to Bed with Valerian Root
Valerian is a flowering perennial in the honeysuckle family native to Europe and Asia. Its name is taken from the Latin word valere, which means healthy and strong. Also known as and all-heal, setwall and garden heliotrope, valerian is readily recognized by its clusters of sweetly-scented pink or white flowers. The root, however, the medicinal part of the plant, has an odor reminiscent of well-worn socks, earning the herb the nickname "phu." While butterflies flock to the flo
Plant Compounds Inhibit Key SARS-CoV-2 Enzyme
Plants use certain chemical compounds to ward off disease. According to a new study conducted by plant biologists at North Carolina State University, compounds found in green tea, muscadine grapes, dark chocolate and cacao powder inhibit the function of a protease called Mpro in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While proteases are responsible for a variety of beneficial actions in healthy cells, they are also involved in cell replication. In the p
