This comment is not from me but from another write on Substack. It is excellent information to share. Starting in a comment here, I thought this information would be useful to others.
Yes, Ivermectin is Zinc Ionophore.
https://www.nature.com/articles/aps201825
Zinc is an essential nutrient for human health and has anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory functions. The association between zinc deficiency and the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been supported by numerous studies. Supplementing zinc can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and protect against myocardial infarction and ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Ivermectin as an ionophore drug.
The term ‘ionophore’ was first used in 1967 in reference of the ability of organic molecules to bind metal cations and to form lipid soluble complexes that facilitate their transport across cellular membranes. Thus, ionophores can diffuse back and forth between the extracellular and intracellular spaces, or may remain in the plasma membrane as their transport metal ions between intracellular and extracellular spaces [42]. Ionophore antibiotics act by generating pores in biological membranes that dramatically alter the ionic household of cells.
I just published another article on this subject:
Without intervention, the disease machineries of oxidative stress go into a vicious cycle of self-propagation mode that leads to host debilitation, cachexia and death.
Current drugs are mainly antiparasitic and relieve the “disease” aspect of malaria sparingly.
Phytotherapeutics and phytochemicals (asiatic acid, maslinic acid, oleanolic acid), which display anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant properties, have shown both “antiparasite” and “anti-disease” effects promising efficacy in combating malaria.
2. ZINC IONOPHORES
Zinc is found and operates in every cell of the body, but it's a non-fat-soluble mineral that can't move through the fat-based cell membrane. Therefore, it needs help to cross the cell membrane from special transport systems. These systems include zinc ionophore and zinc binding-proteins. The zinc binding proteins are located in all membranes of every cell of the body for efficient inflow and outflow of zinc in the cells.
Ionophore is a fat-soluble substance that can transport non-fat soluble elements across the cell membrane. Zinc-ionophores are zinc transporters in and out of the cell and can increase the effects of zinc in the cell. For example, Hinokitiol, a natural substance found in the Cupressaceae trees is a potent zinc-ionophore. It's known for its antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer properties and it's regarded as the safest zinc ionophores compared to other ionophores like hydroxychloroquine, quercetin, epigallocatechin, pyrithione, zincophorin, etc. Hinokitiol doesn't accumulate in the body and it has no recorded drug allergy or unfavorable effects, unlike hydroxychloroquine.
Thank-you for this explanation.