Related studies have found that sialic acid plays an important role in the release of newly replicated virus particles from infected host cells. Sialic acid can preferentially specifically bind to the influenza virus surface protein hemagglutinin (HA), thereby effectively preventing the spread of influenza virus in the human body. Therefore, the development of influenza virus inhibitors based on sialic acid has become a hot research.

Currently, two neuraminidase inhibitor drugs have been approved for marketing, namely Zanamivir (trade name: Relenza®) and Oseltamivir (trade name: Tamiflu®). Among them, Relenza® was approved in 1999, and the original research was Biota Holdings Limited, which can treat influenza caused by infection with avian influenza virus. The original research of Tamiflu® was Gilead Sciences (later authorized related patents to Roche), which can inhibit the spread of influenza A and B viruses in the human body to treat influenza.

Biological functions of sialic acid such as anti-tumor, anti-virus, and promoting the development of the brain nervous system. In addition to treating influenza, sialic acid also plays a role in the treatment and auxiliary diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and tumors. Therefore, using sialic acid as a raw material to develop a series of anti-virus, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and treatment of senile dementia drugs is a very potential research direction. Sialic acid has a high content in the human brain, which is related to the growth of nerve cells. Sialic acid on the cell surface protects cells and macromolecules from attack by enzymes and the immune system. However, the content of sialic acid in the brain or blood of the elderly with dementia decreased, and after drug treatment, the content of sialic acid returned to normal, thus indicating that sialic acid participates in neural activities.

Anti-virus improves human immunity

① Sialic acid and its derivatives are important in inhibiting sialidase and anti-influenza virus, anti-rotavirus, anti-adenovirus, anti-respiratory syncytial virus, anti-parainfluenza virus and so on.

② Sialic acid will not be degraded by digestive enzymes in the digestive system, and can enter the intestinal tract to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from adsorbing on intestinal cells, and play a role in resisting various pathogenic bacteria.

③ Free sialic acid in body fluids can prevent the adsorption of cold viruses on the cell surface.

④ Sialic acid has a strong negative charge, and some vitamins and minerals in food are positively charged. At the same time, sialic acid polypeptide substances have the effect of antibacterial and detoxification, can inhibit bacteria and anti-virus, inhibit white blood cell adhesion and anti-inflammation.