Potential Implications of Black Seed and its Principal Constituent Thymoquinone in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the current pandemic of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). The progression of COVID-19 is related to an excessive host inflammatory immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is considered a major cause of disease severity and death. Dysregulated immune response produces huge amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines called "cytokine storm". Moreover, the activation of microthrombi formation plays an important role in multiple organ failure.

METHODS:

Keeping into consideration the potent anti-inflammatory activity of black seed and its major constituent Thymoquinone (TQ), we hypothesize their potential implication in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. A literature search was performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Scopus electronic databases using the terms, including black seed, N. sativa, thymoquinone, SARSCoV- 2, COVID-19 and inflammatory immune response.

RESULTS:

Various studies confirmed that Black seed and TQ reduced the thrombus formation, the expression of tissue factor and the immune activation. Furthermore, TQ demonstrated the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that may be effective in controlling the secondary infections in COVID-19 patients.

CONCLUSION:

Keeping into consideration the multi-targeting nature of the black seed and TQ, they may be used as a potential therapeutic formulation or as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

• Authors: Masood Alam Khan, Hina Younus
• Journal: Current pharmaceutical biotechnology (Curr Pharm Biotechnol) Vol. 22 Issue 10 Pg. 1315-1324 ( 2021) ISSN: 1873-4316 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 33176642 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected].

Chemical References

• Benzoquinones
• Cytokines
• thymoquinone

Topics

• Benzoquinones
• COVID-19
• Cytokines
• Humans
• SARS-CoV-2
• Seeds