Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on lung function and inflammatory mediatorsin partly controlled asthma: a randomized controlled trial.
Nigella sativa and its derivatives have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effects, but the effects have been evaluated in only a few clinical studies.



To determine the effect of N sativa supplementation on inflammation of the airways and limitation of airflow in partly controlled asthma patients.



Single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.



Asthma and allergy clinic of a university hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia.



Patients were divided into three groups. A control group (n=24) received the placebo, while NS-1 and NS-2 groups (n=26 each) received 1 and 2 g/day of N sativa, respectively, for 3 months along with maintenance inhaled therapy.



Asthma control test (ACT) score, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability and other pulmonary function tests, IgE, serum cytokines, and frequency of exacerbations.



FEF25-75% and FEV1 (% predicted) increased significantly (P < .05) at both 6 and 12 weeks in the NS-2 group. PEF variability significantly improved in both NS-1 and NS-2 groups at 6 and 12 weeks as compared with the controls (P < .05). FeNO and serum IgE decreased significantly after 12 weeks in both the NS-1 and NS-2 groups vs baseline (P < .05). Both doses of N sativa produced a significant increase in the serum IFN-gamma at 12 weeks vs baseline (P < .05) as well as a significant improvement in the ACT score at 6 and 12 weeks vs baseline (P < .001, < .01). Significantly fewer patients had exacerbations in the NS-1 group (P < .05).



N sativa supplementation with inhaled maintenance therapy improves some measures of pulmonary function and inflammation in partly controlled asthma.



No bronchoalveolar lavage or sputum samples taken for measurement of asthma markers. ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN48853858 DOI 10.1186/ISRCTN48853858.
Ayad Mohammed
AM
Salem
Dr. Abdullah Bamosa, Department of Physiology,, College of Medicine, University of Dammam,, PO Box 2114, Dammam 31451,, Saudi Arabia, T: +966-505853161,, +966-543440929, bamosa@uod.edu.sa,, absheikh@uod.edu.sa, ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000.0003-3061-6626.
Abdullah Omar
AO
Bamosa
Hatem Othman
HO
Qutub
Rakesh Kumar
RK
Gupta
Ahmed
A
Badar
Abdelsalam
A
Elnour
Muhammad Nasir
MN
Afzal
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D045853:Exhalation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031881:Nigella sativa; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E