Free Republic

Much of what makes Hydroxychloroquine effective in combination with Zinc is believed to be its Zinc Ionophore capability. That is, the ability for Hydroxychloroquine to transport Zinc into cells and inhibit viral replication. Hinokitiol is also a Zinc Ionophore and was discovered in Japan in 1936. Hinokitiol is naturally occurring and draws its advantage from having low toxicity, hence, its wide inclusion in consumer oral care products. It is also an approved food additive in Japan, with 'Hinoki Clinical jp' selling Hinokitiol based products since 1956. Hydroxychloroquine requires a prescription, alternatively Hinokitiol can be purchased in consumer oral care products...

ABSTRACT: Labile zinc, a tiny fraction of total intracellular zinc that is loosely bound to proteins and easily interchangeable, modulates the activity of numerous signaling and metabolic pathways. Dietary plant polyphenols such as the flavonoids quercetin (QCT) and epigallocatechin-gallate act as antioxidants and as signaling molecules. Remarkably, the activities of numerous enzymes that are targeted by polyphenols are dependent on zinc. We have previously shown that these polyphenols chelate zinc cations and hypothesized that these flavonoids might be also acting as zinc ionophores, transporting zinc cations through the plasma membrane. To prove this hypothesis, herein, we have demonstrated the capacity...