Nigella sativaSupplementation Improves Asthma Control and Biomarkers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Poor compliance with conventional asthma medications remains a major problem in achieving asthma control. Nigella sativa oil (NSO) is used traditionally for many inflammatory conditions such as asthma. We aimed to investigate the benefits of NSO supplementation on clinical and inflammatory parameters of asthma. NSO capsules 500mg twice daily for 4 weeks was used as a supplementary treatment in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RDBPCT) in asthmatics (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02407262). The primary outcome was Asthma Control Test (ACT) score. The secondary outcomes were pulmonary function test, blood eosinophils, and total serum Future studies should follow asthmatics for longer periods in a multicentre trial.

Possible therapeutic effect of carvacrol on asthmatic patients: A randomized, double blind, placebo‐controlled, Phase II clinical trial

“…Therefore, seeking more effective treatments for asthma is necessary. Using different herbal medicines for treatment of 79% of asthmatic patients has been reported, but the scientific evidence for their efficacy in asthma is incomplete and should be evaluated more thoroughly (Koshak et al ., ).…”

Effects of Nigella sativa oil on Th1/Th2, cytokine balance, and improvement of asthma control in children

“…15 A randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial conducted by Koshak et al showed that NSO improved the mean ACT score in children with asthma. 13 Our previous study reported that the administration of Nigella sativa oil along with immunotherapy and probiotic therapy to asthmatic children, significantly increased their ACT scores. 12 Another study described that children with asthma who were given NSO showed a significant reduction in pulmonary index (PI) and improvement of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).…”

“…11 In several clinical studies, Nigella sativa showed positive effects on clinical and biochemical markers of asthma inflammation. 12,13 In mouse models of asthma, Nigella sativa oil (NSO) reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, total leukocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, and serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE). 14 The aim of this study was to investigate the potential anti-asthmatic effect of Nigella sativa on IFN-g/IL-4 cytokines, Th1/Th2 cells, and improvement of asthma control in children with asthma.…”

The efficacy of Nigella sativa supplementation for asthma control: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

“…Three hundred and fifteen potentially relevant articles are identified initially. Finally, four RCTs are included in the meta-analysis [20][21][22][23].…”

“…Current evidence is insufficient for routine clinical use of Nigella sativa supplementation in asthmatic patients. Recently, several studies have investigated the efficacy of Nigella sativa supplementation for these patients, but the results are conflicting [21][22][23].…”