Japanese scientists have established that cardamom seed extract activates the body's protective mechanisms against viruses. The results of the study were published in the journal Foods.
As specialists note, the hot water extract of this popular spice and its main active ingredient — 1,8-cineole — enhance the production of type I interferons, which play a key role in antiviral protection.
These molecules help cells recognize viral ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids, preventing the reproduction of pathogens in the early stages of infection.
According to experiments on human lung cells, natural compounds found in spices can activate an immune response comparable in effectiveness to that of pharmaceutical drugs. Scientists believe that the results of the study open up the possibility of using cardamom as a safe and accessible means of preventing viral diseases.
