New research has suggested that the immune-boosting powers of Lactobacillus bugs found in Japanese pickled turnip, or Suguki, could help fight the virus.
It is thought that the bacteria might even prevent more virulent strains of flu such as H1N1 and the
deadly H7N9 avian flu which recently emerged in China.
A probiotic drink which contains the KB290 strain of the bug is now being tested on humans having tested it on mice.
Fans of the vegetable have long claimed it has superfood properties but only now are scientists testing the pickle in the lab.
Naoko Waki, from the Japanese food company Kagome, which carried out a study into the bacteria, said: ‘Our results show that when a particular strain of Lactobacillus brevis is eaten by mice, it has protective effects against influenza virus infection.’
The findings of the study have been published in the journal Letters in Applied Microbiology.
A protective layer of sugars called exopolysaccharides that protects the bacteria against acid stomach juices could lie behind its powers, the Japanese researchers believe.
Ms Waki said: ‘We know that exopolysaccharides have immune boosting effects in other similar bacteria, so we wonder if the exopolysaccharides of KB290 are responsible for the effects we see.’
Last month scientists predicted that a new ‘Holy Grail’ flu vaccine which gives lifelong protection against all strains of the virus could be available within five years.
Scientists from Britain and Europe were said to be getting ready to start large scale trials of a universal vaccine after early successful tests on humans.
The trial programme received a multi-million pound EU grant to fund research.
Source: Mail Online