Scientect

Author: Darssheela Ramasamy, MSc (Biotechnology Professional)
Date: 13 October 2025

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of childhood lower respiratory tract infections. This virus may not be widely known as influenza or COVID-19, but its impact is profound.

RSV causes nearly 33 million infections in children under the age of 5, leading to more than 100,000 deaths worldwide (Li et al.,2022). Infants younger than size are particularly vulnerable, and the elderly also face serious risks.  Despite the burden, treatment options are limited.

While vaccines have recently been approved for older adults, children still lack effective preventive tools. Ribavirin, the only antiviral occasionally prescribed, is costly and linked to significant side effects, making it difficult for routine usage (Efstathiou et al., 2020; Chaer et al., 2023). This pressing gap in RSV management has sparked interest in researchers to explore natural alternatives and on promising candidate might already be sitting in your kitchen spice rack: coriander seeds.

From Kitchen Staple to Medical Candidate

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), also known as cilantro, is a culinary herb treasured across Middle east and Asia. Traditionally, its seeds have been used to relieve digestive issues, insomnia and even joint pain (Gastón et al., 2016; Larijani et al., 2016; Nair et al., 2012). Not only that it is therapeutic, coriander offers antimicrobial properties especially against Gram-positive, gram- negative bacteria, and against several candida species (Barbosa et al.,2023; Silva et al., 2011).

Also, previous studies demonstrated coriander extracts could act against viruses such as herpes simplex virus, (Romeilah et al., 2010; Fayyad et al., 2017), hepatitis A (Seo et al., 2017), Newcastle disease virus (Priya et al., 2022) and Human immunodeficiency virus (Asres et al., 2001). These viruses share similar genetic and structural properties with RSV, raising an important question: Could coriander seeds also block RSV infection?

Putting Coriander to the Test

To answer this, we investigated the antiviral properties of coriander seed extracts against RSV in human lung epithelial cells. We prepared extracts using 3 solvents which are methanol, hexane and water. The extracts were tested their ability to stop RSV from replicating inside the cells.

The results were amazing! At non-toxic concentrations, all three extracts significantly reduced RSV replication, where in some cases even outperformed ribavirin. For example, the aqueous extract cut extracellular viral levels by 98% compared to ribavirin’s lower inhibition rate. Morphologically, cells treated with coriander extracts showed no viral damage, a sharp contrast to untreated infected cells that displayed typical signs of RSV-induced stress (Ramasamy et al.,2025).

The Science Behind the Seeds

Wondering how this extract worked, we further analysed the tested extracts using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), a technique that identifies chemical compounds. There were 4 key bioactive molecules present across all extracts such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, linalool and myristic acid (Ramasamy et al., 2025). Each of these has been previously linked to antiviral activity.

Linalool, for instance, is a fragrant compound also found in lavender and basil, known to weaken influenza and herpes viruses (Abou et al., 2020; Choi, 2018; Romeilah et al., 2010). Fatty acids like palmitic and stearic acid have been reported to block enzymes essential for SARS-CoV-2 and parainfluenza replication (Fendiyanto et al.,2021; Sener,2007). Meanwhile, myristic acid had shown anti-herpes activity (Parang et al., 1997). In a whole, these compounds may create a synergistic shield, disrupting RSV at multiple stages starting from cell entry to replicating its gene in host cells (Ramasamy et al.,2025).

Interestingly, each extract contained unique compounds that might contribute to the antiviral effect. The aqueous extract was rich in cis-vaccenic acid, known to target viral polymerases (Saraswathi & Elavarasi et al., 2022). The hexane extract contained capric acid, which can disrupt viral envelopes, while the methanolic extract had geranyl acetate, a compound with proven anti-influenza effect (Khairan et al., 2021; Pourghanbari et al., 2016; Rosmalena et al., 2019). This diversity suggests that coriander seeds act through multiple bioactive pathways, making it tougher for viruses to resist.

What this Means for the Future

Our findings provide the first scientific evidence that coriander seeds can exhibit anti-RSV in vitro. Since this is a preliminary study, the implications are exciting. From flavouring curries to potentially saving lives, coriander seeds show how nature’s simplest resource may hold solutions to our most urgent health challenges. A widely available, affordable spice could be developed into a safe, plant-based antiviral therapy particularly beneficial in low- and middle-income countries where RSV deaths are highest.

Future studies including isolating specific compounds, testing them in combination to see the synergistic effect and conducting animal and clinical trials should be done to confirm safety and effectiveness in living systems. Advances in formulation, like developing herbal supplements, lozenges or inhalable extracts, could bring coriander-based antivirals closer to reality. This journey of coriander from spice jar to science lab shows that sometimes, the fight against life-threatening viruses can begin with the most unexpected of allies.

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