(CTV News) — In the search for new drugs to fight the novel coronavirus, Canadian researchers have turned their attention to a popular super fruit.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have begun a clinical trial testing whether an early intervention of acai palm berry extract can help prevent severe complications caused by inflammation in patients with COVID-19 thanks to its proposed anti-inflammatory benefits.
“In a sense, it’s a Hail Mary,” Dr. Michael Farkouh, lead researcher and director of the Peter Munk Centre of Excellence in Multinational Clinical Trials, part of the University Health Network, told CTV News.
“But because of the easy accessibility to the berries, to the extract, that it’s safe and cheap, it’s really worth a shot.”
Acai berries have been widely promoted for weight-loss and anti-aging purposes in North America. But the berry’s extract has also shown some ability to lessen the body’s inflammatory response in initial medical studies. (…)