Nigella sativa (Habbatus sauda): the perspectives for COVID-19 treatment

Background: Nigella sativa may have the potency to complement integrally in conditions of uncertain core basic needs of COVID-19 treatment. The understanding of immune responses occurring in the mechanism of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has brought attention to the more specific demand on the potential drug targeted for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Main text: The core basic needs in the treatment of COVID-19, based on the immune responses, that encompassing all the stage of diseases going through preventive until curative aspects consist of increased immunity using interferon; lung protective function; anti-inflammatory by interferon-γ activation; and inhibition of hyaluronan-synthase-2 by 4-methylumbelliferone. Nigella sativa may give a role in all four core basic needs from the viewpoint of immune responses occurring in COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: Nigella sativa may have the potency as a complementary therapy that may be applied in all stages of the core basic needs of COVID-19 treatment, which the scientific community may more consider its broad-range potential benefit of use in the COVID-19 treatment research