Russian scientists developing algae remedy for COVID thrombosis

The seaweed common in the Far East have been discovered to contain substances that can become the basis of drugs against thrombosis, a common complication of COVID, Report informs referring to Izvestia newspaper.

Scientists of the Somov Institute of epidemiology and microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian consumer watchdog) have published an article in which they substantiated the possibility of creating a natural, low-toxic, and cheap anticoagulant in comparison with synthetic drugs.

According to the researchers, in the future, such a drug may become a replacement for the now widely used heparin, the most common anticoagulant in medicine, which, however, has adverse side effects.

Russian experts have found that the Far Eastern seaweed contains substances that can reduce hemostasis disorders during COVID.

As the scientists explained, polysaccharides from seaweed containing a sulfate group in their composition prevent the development of blood clots. Therefore, in case of a severe course of the disease, sea compounds can be used as auxiliary therapy.

After developing a pharmaceutical substance, the efficacy and safety of polysaccharides have yet to be tested first in animals and then in a complete cycle of clinical trials.