Scientists have confirmed that wormwood extract is effective against coronavirus.

Vaccines are being developed against COVID-19, but there is still no cure for the infection.

Researchers in Denmark and Germany have found that wormwood (which contains the compound artemisinin) is safe for humans.

The compound found in wormwood can help once the virus gets into the body, however this is the first research which proves that a COVID-19 treatment based on artemisinin derivatives is actually possible.

Clinical tests are ongoing but the results of the research have already been published in Scientific Report Journals.

The value of wormwood increased in the 1970s after Chinese pharmacologist and later Nobel Prize winner Tu Yu separated artemisinin from wormwood - the most effective treatment for malaria.

According to the World Health Organisation, malaria affected 216 million people in 91 countries in 2016, and 445,000 cases ended in death. And until now, the most effective and accessible method used to control the disease is a combination therapy based on artemisinin, which also helps if you have tuberculosis or diabetes.