SCIENTISTS HAVE DEVELOPED A PLANT-BASED CHEWING GUM DESIGNED TO REDUCE VIRAL LOAD IN THE MOUTH, including viruses like influenza, herpes simplex, and even SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory settings. The concept is simple but clever: certain plant proteins can bind to viral particles and potentially neutralize them while you chew.

In controlled lab studies, researchers embedded antiviral proteins derived from plants into a gum formulation. When chewed, the gum releases these proteins into saliva, where they may trap or reduce viral particles. Early findings suggest a significant drop in detectable virus levels in simulated conditions. However, lab success does not automatically mean full protection or prevention in real-world human transmission.

If future clinical trials confirm safety and measurable effectiveness, this approach could become a supplementary public health tool, especially in high-risk environments. Still, it would likely complement vaccines and antiviral treatments rather than replace them. As always in medical science, peer-reviewed human trials are the key next step.