the effect of hsn (honey, saussurea costus, and nigella sativa) administration as an immunomodulator in enhancing cellular, humoral and cytokine immune responses in covid-19 vaccine recipients and inhibiting viral growth

A combination of natural substances such as honey, saussurea costus, and nigella sativa (hsn) has been recognized for its potential as an immunomodulator and antiviral agent. in the context of the covid-19 pandemic and the need to enhance vaccine effectiveness, utilizing natural ingredients to support adaptive immune responses and mucosal protection has become relevant for research. this study aims to evaluate the effects of hsn administration on cellular and humoral immune responses, as well as the activity of antibodies in neutralizing the sars-cov-2 virus in vitro. this study was conducted in three stages: computational identification of active compounds from saussurea costus, in vivo testing of immunological parameters in subjects who had received the covid-19 vaccine, and a virus neutralization test based on cytopathic effects using vero e6 cell cultures. subjects were separated into four groups: one control group and three treatment groups administered different doses of the natural compound combination over 14 days. computational analysis showed that picroside b from saussurea costus has a strong affinity for pro-inflammatory receptors. the treatment groups exhibited the elevated levels of t-helper cells of types 2 and 17, as well as the levels of interleukin-4, interleukin-17, immunoglobulin g, secretory immunoglobulin a, and beta-defensin. the levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha tended to decrease. the neutralization test showed the inhibition of the cytopathic effect and a surge in neutralizing antibody titers in the treatment groups. the combination of honey, saussurea costus, and nigella sativa has potential as a natural immunobooster by activating adaptive and mucosal immune responses and generating functional antibodies capable of neutralizing the sars-cov-2 virus in vitro.