Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom) seed extract as well as its main biologically active ingredient, 1,8-cineoleAccording to new research, they may act as a beneficial antiviral agent by enhancing the production of antiviral proteins called type I interferons.
Herbal remedies have traditionally been used to treat a wide range of diseases, including viral infections.
Medicinal plants and herbs are a rich source of bioactive compounds that pharmaceutical companies use in antiviral products.
These compounds can affect different viruses at different stages of their life cycle and modulate the body's immune response to viral infection.
In a new study, Shinshu University researcher Takeshi Kawahara and colleagues found that cardamom seed extract may actually have powerful antiviral properties.
“We are researching food ingredients that can prevent viral infections in our daily lives even before the emergence of the new coronavirus,” Dr. Kawahara said.
“The pandemic has increased public attention to the antiviral properties of food, which has given us more opportunities to participate in this research.”
In a previous study, the authors found that cardamom seed extract had a preventive effect against influenza virus infection.
In the current study, they experimented on human lung cells known as A549 cells, treated them with cardamom seed extract, and then mimicked the process of viral infection in those cells—all to better understand the effect of cardamom seed extract on the production of antiviral molecules.
Specifically, they found that cardamom seed extract, as well as its main bioactive ingredient, a compound called 1,8-cineole, were able to activate intracellular nucleic acid sensors, which are sensors inside the cell that can recognize DNA and RNA molecules of viral origin.
These sensors can then induce the production of various molecules called cytokines, which act against viruses at different stages of infection.
In this particular case, treatment with cardamom seed extract or 1,8-cineole increased the production of a certain type of cytokine known as type I interferons, which play a critical role in the body's defense against viral infections, and this increase was mediated by intracellular nucleic acid sensors.
Given these results, the researchers expressed great interest in the potential medical applications of their findings.
“Cardamom has historically been widely used as a spice with medicinal properties, but based on these results, it is expected that it can be used as an antiviral material to prevent a wide range of viral infections,” Dr. Kawahara said.
“We hope this research will provide new insights into the antiviral properties of foods and create the opportunity to focus on a wider range of food ingredients that can help prevent viral infections in everyday life.”
conclusions were published in August 2025 in the magazine Food.
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Abdullah al-Sufian Shuvo etc.. 2025. Type I interferon enhancement effect of cardamom seed extract through regulation of intracellular nucleic acid sensor. Food 14 (15): 2744; doi: 10.3390/foods14152744
