Therapeutic Potential of Black Seed Oil to Nuclear Factor Kappa B Levels of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Abstract

Herbal medicine is one of the most used adjuvant and alternative therapies by people with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk. This is alongside conventional MetS risk treatments. Black Seed Oil(BSO) is a medicinal plant most widely used worldwide as the most excellent form of healing medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BSO as adjuvant therapy on levels of NF-κB in patients with MetS risk. This prospective was conducted at Jetis I Public Health Center (PHC), Yogyakarta, Indonesia. After confirmation of diagnosis, sixty-two patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Approval from the institutional ethical committee was also obtained. The patients with MetS risk were divided into two groups (n=31). In group I (the BSO group), the patients have advised BSO 3mL/day for 20 days. In group II (the Control group), the patients have advised a placebo for 20days. The level of NF-κB was estimated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The median values between groups were tested with Mann-Whitney with a significance of P=<0.05 (95%). The favorable impact of BSO was seen in almost all variables, but the results were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Adjuvant therapy of BSO doses of 3 mL/day could not increase levels of NF-κB in the patients with MetS risk at Jetis I PHC, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A larger study with adequate sample size and long-term supplementation with BSO is recommended.