Two scientific articles analyzing the effectiveness of the anti-COVID-19 nasal spray, of which Near East University is a project partner in the development, on humans have been accepted to the “European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences”, one of the most prestigious scientific publications in its field.
The COVID-19 preventive nasal spray, of which Near East University is a project partner in the development, continues to make an impact in the scientific world. While it was still under development, two articles emphasizing its high potential in the fight against COVID-19 were published in the journal Acta Biomedica, and two new articles analyzing the effectiveness of the nasal spray were accepted by the “European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences”, one of the most prestigious scientific publications in the field.
In the articles, the effectiveness of the active ingredients of alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol, which are natural components obtained from olive leaves and contained in the protective spray developed in partnership with the Near East University, Perugia University, European Biotechnology Association (EBTNA) and the Italian MAGI Group, are discussed.
The successful results of the nasal spray on humans are on the agenda of the scientific world.
Two new articles that have been accepted by the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, one of the most important publications within the scope of the Science Citation Index (SCI), analyze the results of protective nasal spray on humans. “Bioinformatics molecular docking study and review of the existing literature about the role and interactions of hydroxytyrosol and alpha-cyclodextrin in the lipid raft-mediated endocytosis process of SARS-CoV-2 virus” and “In vitro and human studies on the efficacy of alpha -cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol against SARS-CoV-2 infection” reveal the effectiveness of the protective nasal spray on humans.
After this stage, where it was determined that the spray was safe in the physiological environment in the recommended concentration range in the first tests, the product was started to be tested on volunteers. According to the results described in the article, no adverse effects were observed in individuals who applied the nasal spray to their noses 4 times a day (4 puffs each dose) for 15 days. All individuals participating in the study remained SARS-CoV-2 negative throughout the start and end period of the study.
In another study, of which the research process has been completed and is in the publication stage, nasal spray was used by individuals in the high-risk category for 30 days. The individuals participating in the study remained negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the period they used the spray and no side effects were observed. In addition, it was determined that the spray decreased the expression of genes involved in endocytosis and was effective against SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture.
The researches, the results of which were shared with the scientific community with the published articles, proved that the protective nasal spray is safe and effective as it improves the defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection, has no toxic effect and reduces the synthesis of viral particles.
Attention was drawn to its potential in 2020
Previously, two articles were published in the 91st issue of Acta Biomedica, one of the important scientific journals in 2020, and the potential of the protective nasal spray in the fight against COVID-19 as a food supplement containing alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol was examined. In the articles “A pilot study on the preventative potential of alphacyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol against SARS-CoV-2 transmission” and “Pilot study for the evaluation of safety profile of a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis”, emphasizing the anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of the product, it was stated that the nasal spray has a broad-spectrum antiviral activity, especially against enveloped viruses such as influenza virus, HIV or coronaviruses. On the other hand, it was determined that alpha-cyclodextrin, another component of the spray, consumed the sphingolipids in the lipid layer where the ACE2 receptor specific to SARS-CoV-2 is localized, preventing SARS-CoV-2 from entering the cell and replicating itself. In the articles published by Acta Biomedica, it was emphasized that with the use of a protective nasal spray, which is a combination of these two active substances, the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the respiratory tract, which is one of the most effective transmission routes, is prevented and the virus is inactivated with its antiviral effect.
Stating that the potential of the protective nasal spray, which they developed and put into use together with their Italian colleagues to fight against COVID-19, has been followed with interest in the scientific world since its development, Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stated that both articles analyzing the results of the spray on humans were accepted by the “European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences”, one of the most important publications within the scope of Science Citation Index (Sci).
Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “The fact that our articles on COVID-19 preventive nasal spray are included in the most prestigious and respected publications of their fields is also important in terms of showing the importance of the role of Near East University and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus throughout the scientific world.”
