US Scientists Develop Antiviral Chewing Gum That Kills 95% Of Flu, Herpes Viruses

A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania has developed a special chewing gum that may help reduce the spread of herpes and flu viruses. The gum has shown strong results in lab tests, cutting down viral loads of two herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and two influenza A strains (H1N1 and H3N2) by more than 95 per cent.

Every year, seasonal flu causes widespread illness and hospitalisations around the world. At the same time, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) – which is mainly spread through oral contact – affects more than two-thirds of the global population. Despite the high number of infections, low vaccination rates for flu and the absence of a vaccine for herpes make it necessary to find new ways to stop the spread.

The researchers decided to focus on the mouth — where these viruses are commonly transmitted — to test their idea. They created the gum using lablab beans, also known as Lablab purpureus, which naturally contain a special protein called FRIL. This protein can trap and neutralise viruses.

The team found that when this bean powder was made into chewing gum, it consistently released the antiviral protein at the places where viruses enter the body. In fact, just one two-gram gum tablet with 40 milligrams of the bean powder was enough to reduce the virus levels by over 95% in lab settings.

What’s more, the gum was prepared to meet US FDA drug safety standards, meaning it could be safe for human use. “These results are promising and open the door for testing the gum in people to see if it can really help reduce infections and transmission,” said Professor Henry Daniell from Penn’s School of Dental Medicine.

The team is now exploring how this gum might help fight avian influenza or bird flu, which is currently spreading across parts of North America. “Controlling the spread of viruses is still a huge challenge worldwide. Using a natural food product like bean powder that can target both human and bird flu viruses is a smart and timely idea,” Daniell added.

How to Know If You Might Have Herpes or the Flu

With this novel antiviral gum showing promise in early studies, it could be a convenient, safe, and effective way to help curb the spread of multiple viral infections, including those that currently lack reliable vaccines. Here are some common symptoms to watch for:

Symptoms of Herpes (HSV-1 & HSV-2):

Symptoms of Flu (H1N1 & H3N2):

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