Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian scientists explore the properties of stone lotus in the treatment of Covid-19

Photo: archives

Several Bulgarian scientific organizations have joined forces to prove the efficacy of the stone lotus plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) in the treatment of influenza viruses and coronaviruses.

The research started in 2017, after Bulgarian Academy of Sciences researchers found out that the plant had a healing effect on conjunctivitis and herpes. They then decided to go further and study the healing properties of stone lotus against influenza viruses.

After the outbreak of the pandemic they focused specifically on researching the plant’s effect on human coronavirus, which is in the same family of RNA viruses as Covid-19. The effect was not as strong as for herpes and influenza viruses, but it was good enough - the activity suppressing viral replication was over 63%.

Currently, the project involves scientists from the Institutes of Organic Chemistry, Microbiology and General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and researchers from the National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and the Agrobiological Institute of the Agricultural Academy.

More about the plant and the direction in which scientists are working - see the publication:


Compiled by: Gergana Mancheva

English: Elizabeth Radkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria marks Earth Hour and World Water Day

"It all started on a March evening in 2007 when 2 million people and 2,000 companies in Sydney (Australia) turned off their lights for one hour – from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM – to show that they care about nature and the climate. Back then, no one could..

published on 3/22/25 6:05 AM

Balkan developments

Concert in North Macedonia turns into tragedy  A nightclub fire tragedy left North Macedonia in grief. A concert by the popular hip-hop group DNA, which was supposed to become a celebration in the small town of Kočani, turned into a true..

published on 3/21/25 11:20 AM
The first Bulgarian school in Edinburg

First Bulgarian school in Edinburgh brings together friends of Bulgaria on its tenth anniversary

Scotland is known as "The Land of the Brave" and recognized as the "Homeland of the Bagpipe". An instrument that carries the soul of Bulgarian folklore in its sound. According to unofficial data, the "brave" Bulgarians who are building a life in this..

published on 3/21/25 10:46 AM