Title:Therapeutic Potentials of Black Seeds (Nigella sativa) in the Management
of COVID-19 -A Review of Clinical and In-silico Studies
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Author(s): Naina Mohamed Pakkir Maideen, Rajkapoor Balasubramanian*, Mirunalini Gobinath, Mohamed Rafiullah and Sudha Muthusamy
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, J.K.K.
Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Komarapalayam 638 183, India
Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Nigella sativa, black seeds, thymoquinone, nigellidine, nigellone, α-hederin.
Abstract:
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and patients with COVID-19 are managed
mainly using repurposed conventional drugs, which target the viral entry and viral replication of
SARS CoV-2 along with standard care and supportive therapy.
Objective: This review article focuses on the potential benefits of black seeds (Nigella sativa)
observed in clinical and in silico molecular docking studies of COVID-19.
Methods: The literature was searched using databases such as LitCOVID, Web of Science,
Google Scholar, bioRxiv, medRxiv, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, EMBASE, and reference
lists to identify published manuscripts or preprints related to the prevention or treatment of
COVID-19 with black seeds (N. sativa) or their phytoconstituents.
Results: Various clinical studies and in silico molecular docking studies determined that black
seeds (N. sativa) and their bioactive phytoconstituents have potential activity against SARS
CoV-2 infection.
Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 could be managed using black seeds (N. sativa) along
with supportive care, which would speed up the recovery and decrease the mortality rate. More
randomized controlled clinical trials would further establish the safety and efficacy of N. sativa
in COVID-19 patients.
