A common seed product lining grocery store shelves could serve as an effective safeguard against dangerous viruses.
A recent study found that cardamom seeds, which cost from as little as $8 for a bag of hundreds of seeds, have antiviral properties and can enhance the production of type I interferons, proteins that protect against viral infections.
Researchers from Shinshu University in Japan have long been researching food ingredients that can prevent viral infections and they say their work has become even more relevant since the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a previous study, the scientists found that cardamom seed extract had a preventative effect on influenza (flu) virus infection.
Continuing this investigation, in the recent study, they conducted experiments on human lung cells known as A549 cells, which are widely used in cancer research, drug development, and as a model for lung-related diseases.
In a lab environment, these cells were treated with cardamom seed extract and exposed to a simulated viral infection in order to better understand the effect of the seeds on the production of antiviral molecules.
They found that the extract, in particular 1,8-cineole, the active ingredient in the extract, helped activate sensors inside the cells that recognize viral genetic material.
These sensors triggered the production of cytokines, proteins that help the body fight off viruses, and the type I interferons.
A common spice lurking in your kitchen cupboard could serve as an effective safeguard against flu this season (stock image)
For the study, the researchers used a cardamom seed hot water extract (CSWE).
The solution was made by simmering crushed cardamom pods in water heated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.
The sample was then spun at high speed to separate its components based on density (heavier parts move to the bottom, lighter parts stay on top) in a machine known as a centrifuge. The resulting liquid was freeze-dried to yield CSWE powder. The CSWE powder was then dissolved in water for use in subsequent experiments.
It isn’t clear if people would be able to replicate this at home, but the researchers believe their findings could lead to new uses for cardamom in health and medicine.
They noted that while cardamom has long been used for its medicinal qualities, these results suggest it might also serve as a natural antiviral agent.
The team hopes this study will encourage further exploration of food-based ingredients as part of daily strategies to prevent viral infections.
The study, published in the journal Foods, was led by Abdullah Al Sufian Shuvo, a doctoral candidate at Shinshu University, in collaboration with Masahiro Kassai from S&B Foods Inc. and Dr Takeshi Kawahara from Shinshu University.
Dr Kawahara concluded: ‘We have been researching food ingredients that can prevent viral infections in our daily life since before the emergence of the novel coronavirus.
‘The pandemic has increased society’s focus on the antiviral properties of food, which has led to more opportunities for us to engage in this research.
‘We hope that this research will provide a new perspective on the antiviral properties of food and create an opportunity to focus attention on a wider range of food ingredients that can help prevent viral infections in daily life.’
A recent study found that cardamom seeds – which cost from as little as $5 per bag – show antiviral properties by enhancing the production of type I interferons, which are antiviral proteins in the body
New York-based Longevity expert Dr Michael Aziz previously told the Daily Mail that he is also an advocate of cardamom for its health boosting properties.
Dr Aziz said along with fighting off the flu, it may be able to act as a blood pressure reducer.
A 2023 review found patients who took cardamom had significantly lower inflammation and blood pressure compared to those who did not.
The review included more than 500 patients, who were mostly overweight or obese. Many had type 2 diabetes.
Meanwhile, another 2023 study investigated cardamom’s use as a antibacterial, antifungal, and wound healing agent.
In lab tests, researchers found that rats treated with a cardamom extract healed faster than rodents that weren’t treated with the solution.
They concluded that ‘as it can exhibit these therapeutic potentials, cardamom can be used in the natural pharmacology field’.
