According to a study by Australian scientists cited by Medical Express, in the future black cumin (Nigella sativa), found in North Africa and West Asia, could be used as a new drug against COVID-19.
According to researchers at the University of Technology in Sydney, thymoquinone – the active ingredient in black cumin – can bind to the prickly protein of the new coronavirus and prevent lung infection.
The researchers said it could also block a cytokine storm that develops in critically ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Thymoquinone has been shown to prevent the release of inflammatory chemicals such as interleukins. Thus, the active ingredient of black cumin can potentially be involved in the treatment of asthma or eczema, arthritis, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, as well as multiple sclerosis.
Black cumin has a positive effect on the treatment of high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. As an anti-inflammatory agent, the plant helps those suffering from allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as epilepsy in children.
The laboratory has also shown that the plant effectively kills bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause many mild and severe infections if they penetrate the skin.
These studies are published in the publication “Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology”.
Source: BTA