Title:Potential Implications of Black Seed and its Principal Constituent Thymoquinone in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients
Volume: 22
Issue: 10
Author(s): Masood Alam Khan*Hina Younus
Affiliation:
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452,Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, immunopathogenesis, thymoquinone, cell signaling pathways, secondary infections.
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.
