Black pepper no remedy for Covid-19, say doctors

KABUL (Pajhwok): Health experts have rejected reports that black pepper prevents people contracting the coronavirus, saying there is no scientific basis for such claims.

Black pepper is obtained from a long, slender stalk in various colours such as green, red, yellow and orange. Used to flavour food, black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning.

The fruit is a drupe (stone fruit), which is about 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter (fresh and fully mature), dark red, and contains a stone that encloses a single pepper seed.

Shabaka-i-Itla Rasani Afghanistan carried an article, headlined: “Treatment of Covid with black pepper.”

It said: “Indian scientists have found that black pepper prevents the spread of the coronavirus in the body. According to Sputnik, scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology declared after research that black pepper with its substance “piperine” prevents the activity of the coronavirus in the body.”

Separately, the Jawan Journalists Club published a report titled “The effect of black pepper on the coronavirus.”

The report says: “Indian scientists have recently concluded that the substance in the black pepper is able to function in parts of SARS-CoV-2 virus and stops the coronavirus, which is responsible for reproduction and penetration in the human body.”

Expert views

Dr. Hashmatullah Faizi, ICU professional at the Afghan-Japan Hospital, said: “Black pepper is vitamin- C substance. Therefore, it can be effective in treating the coronavirus. But it is not directly sufficient to control the virus.”

He urged the people: “Pay attention to health guidelines and do not believe in such rumours.”

Dr. Baz Mohammad Sherzad, a former advisor to the Ministry of Public Health, also denied the effectiveness of the black pepper in treating the pandemic. He said: “As I have always rejected rumours, once again, I would call these reports imaginary views having no scientific basis.”

Javed Hajir, a spokesman for MoPH, told Pajhwok: “In traditional medicine, the benefits of black pepper are many. Generally it is a good source of magnesium, iron, vitamin-C, calcium and protein. It is also a good source of fibre.”

He continued: “Black pepper is used to reduce muscle pain, solve digestive problems and reduce gas in the stomach. It is said to be effective in preventing cancer and good for blood pressure and weight loss.”

He said there was no scientific evidence of black pepper being effective in treating the coronavirus.

For instance, he said, a Covid patient commonly had cold symptoms. Mix a teaspoon of black pepper with two tablespoons of honey in warm water and leave it for 20 minutes and then drink it. It helps relieve mental stress and cold besides strengthening the immune system.

sa/mud