News claiming that a combination of methylxanthine, theobromine, and theophylline can cure the deadly Coronavirus has been doing the rounds on the internet. It further states that these three elements are present in Indian tea.
TAKE GINGER LEMON TEA:
Dr. Li, China’s hero doctor documented casefiles for research purpose a cure of the COVID – 19. The chemical *Methylxanthine*, *Theobromine* and *Theophylline* stimulate& ward off these virus with average immunity.
This is in TEA we take
— Arun Bagla (@ArunBagla9) March 24, 2020
breaking news from CNN .Dr.Li Wenliang china’s hero doctor was punished for the truth n dies due to same disease.Methylxanthine,Theobromine n Theophylline that can ward off the virus.Actually Tea in India.
— boopalan soundararajan (@boopalansounda1) March 24, 2020
The hospital staff in china has started serving tea to the patients 3 times a day, And the effect is finally in *Wuhan* “The centre of this Pandemic” has been contained and community transmission has stopped .
Blessing in the form of TEA in your kitchen.— Verma Anuvrat (@VAnuvrat) March 24, 2020
Fact Check
As a first step, we checked whether the stated three chemicals are present in tea. We found on articles on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website. It also makes it clear that Theobromine and Theophylline are types of Methylxanthine.
Further, we fact-checked if tea is a cure or prevention technique for Coronavirus as on the WHO website. It did not mention anything along the lines.
Since India, where tea is a staple drink, has recorded more than 500 cases, it disproves that those drinking tea will be able to ward off the virus.
Hence, the news is fake and cannot be believed.