Roll of Spices in Controlling Microbial Infection and in Modulation of the Immune System

Nature provided us with different products like fruits, flowers, vegetables, spices, herbs and so on. People utilize them since ancient times. Among them spices play key role in the lives of people and are used in rituals and in traditional medicines, beside using as food additives, preservatives and flavoring agents. People use spices to cure various infectious diseases like cancer, diabetes, viral infection, bacterial infection, fungal infection. At present, entire world is combating the coronavirus disease by utilizing different means. Scientific communities are trying to develop vaccines. Numerous evidences suggested that some common spices have the ability to reduce the severity of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome – coronavirus). One of the main factor to prevent the infection is to boost the immunity power, which is possible by using the spices in our diet chart. Spices also possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study discusses how the spices and their components act as anti-inflammatory agents and prevent infection. The review work is done to find out different beneficial activities of spices, identify the phytochemicals that are responsible for their activities. Aim of this review is to acquaint researchers and international communities with the functions of spices and their bioactive components which are responsible in minimizing the infectivity rate and how the spices are controlling the immune system in combating the diseases. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, spices, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, Nrf2