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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
Methodology for Sputum Induction and Laboratory Processing
Published on: December 17, 2017
Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on lung function and inflammatory mediatorsin partly controlled asthma: a
Ayad Mohammed Salem, Abdullah Omar Bamosa1, Hatem Othman Qutub
1Dr. 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.
Background:
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.
Objectives:
To determine the effect of N sativa supplementation on inflammation of the airways and limitation of airflow in partly controlled asthma patients.
Design:
Single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.
Setting:
Asthma and allergy clinic of a university hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Patients And Methods:
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.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
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.
Results:
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).
Conclusion:
N sativa supplementation with inhaled maintenance therapy improves some measures of pulmonary function and inflammation in partly controlled asthma.
Limitations:
No bronchoalveolar lavage or sputum samples taken for measurement of asthma markers. ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN48853858 DOI 10.1186/ISRCTN48853858.
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