As such it may be helpful for a large number of conditions ranging from the common cold to HIV. In fact, it seems that many of the pharma antiviral drugs used for herpes, HIV, and so on are in fact caffeine-based.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8700184
"...Three purine nucleoside analogues, penciclovir (PCV), acyclovir (ACV) and ganciclovir (GCV), were assessed for in-vivo genotoxicity in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay, together with the xanthine (purine) analogue, caffeine (CAF). All these compounds exhibit anti-viral properties and the first three are marketed anti-viral drugs. Taking into account magnitude of response, slope of dose-response curve and no-effect doses, the order of potency was GCV > ACV > (CAF?) > PCV."
So, based on the above study, caffeine seems to be of similar origin and effectiveness to the blockbuster antiviral drugs, but the public is getting duped into paying for pharma drugs with much worse toxicity profile than caffeine?!
In support of caffeine's effectiveness as antiviral agent, here are some studies that claim it may be effective again herpes, common cold and HIV.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8740461
"...The efficacy of Cafon gel also corresponded to that of oral treatment with 5 mg/kg or more of acyclovir in our cutaneous infection system."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9443519
"...These results suggest that [caffeine] drugs which increase alertness can remove the malaise associated with the common cold, and that increased stimulation of the sensory afferent nerves may also be beneficial."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15840517
"...We also demonstrate that caffeine-related methylxanthines including the clinically used compound, theophylline, act at the same step of the HIV-1 life-cycle as caffeine and efficiently inhibit HIV-1 replication in primary human cells."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8700184
"...Three purine nucleoside analogues, penciclovir (PCV), acyclovir (ACV) and ganciclovir (GCV), were assessed for in-vivo genotoxicity in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay, together with the xanthine (purine) analogue, caffeine (CAF). All these compounds exhibit anti-viral properties and the first three are marketed anti-viral drugs. Taking into account magnitude of response, slope of dose-response curve and no-effect doses, the order of potency was GCV > ACV > (CAF?) > PCV."
So, based on the above study, caffeine seems to be of similar origin and effectiveness to the blockbuster antiviral drugs, but the public is getting duped into paying for pharma drugs with much worse toxicity profile than caffeine?!
In support of caffeine's effectiveness as antiviral agent, here are some studies that claim it may be effective again herpes, common cold and HIV.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8740461
"...The efficacy of Cafon gel also corresponded to that of oral treatment with 5 mg/kg or more of acyclovir in our cutaneous infection system."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9443519
"...These results suggest that [caffeine] drugs which increase alertness can remove the malaise associated with the common cold, and that increased stimulation of the sensory afferent nerves may also be beneficial."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15840517
"...We also demonstrate that caffeine-related methylxanthines including the clinically used compound, theophylline, act at the same step of the HIV-1 life-cycle as caffeine and efficiently inhibit HIV-1 replication in primary human cells."