A study conducted by the UK and Nigerian researchers has shown that Garcinia kola (G. kola) seed extract and garcinoic acid may suppress severe cytokine storms in patients with late-stage COVID-19 infections.
The researchers found that the treatment with these natural products might reduce the coronavirus cytokine storm that can cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (ARDS).
G. kola seed extract and garcinoic acid reduced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNFa), interleukin (IL) 6, IL-1β, and IL-8, which are inflammatory cytokines that target the lung and other tissues, according to News Medical Life Sciences.
Study researchers Dr. Olumayokun Olajide of the University of Huddersfield, England, and his team said G. kola seed extract has anti-inflammatory effects that could be beneficial in treating ARDS and lung damage in patients with serious COVID-19 illness.
Previous studies have found that the seed of the West African plant G. kola has been found to have anti-inflammatory activity in several cellular and animal models.
Dr. Olajide and team wrote, “Considering the critical role of the SARS-CoV-2 cytokine storm in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19, it is important to investigate natural products that could reduce exaggerated and organ damaging-inflammation of the disease.”
The researchers investigated the effects of G. kola seed extract and garcinoic acid on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1-induced hyper-inflammation.
The team wrote, “Further investigations are required to identify specific molecular targets involved in NF-kB-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1-induced inflammation by G. kola and garcinoic acid.”
Dr. Olajide and the team said the findings suggest that the G. kola seed and garcinoic acid are natural products, which may possess pharmacological benefits in reducing the cytokine storm during the late stage of severe COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections, according to News Medical Life Sciences. The team explained, “It is proposed that the anti-inflammatory effects of G. kola seed extract could be an important pharmacological attribute for the treatment of ARDS and lung damage in patients with severe COVID-19.”
