Berries May Reduce Herpes Symptoms

KAOHSIUNG CITY, Taiwan--Scientists at Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan investigated the in vitro anti-HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus type 2) activity and mechanism of action of proanthocyanidin A-1--a compound isolated from Vaccinium vitis-idaea Linn (Ericaceae), a lingonberry bush that produces Alpine cranberry.

According to the study, recently published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (10.1002/jsfa.1958c, 2004), proanthocyanidin A-1 does exhibit anti-HSV-2 activity. The research demonstrated that proanthocyanidin A-1 did not reduce viral infectivity, but did inhibit viral attachment and penetration, and affected the late stage(s) of HSV-2 infection.

The scientists concluded proanthocyanidin A-1 suppressed HSV-2 infection through many modes of action and merits further investigation.