Elsevier

American Journal of Otolaryngology

Volume 32, Issue 5, September–October 2011, Pages 402-407
American Journal of Otolaryngology

Original Contribution
Herbal treatment of allergic rhinitis: the use of Nigella sativa

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2010.07.019Get rights and content

Abstract

Background and aims

Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic and allergic disease, especially in children. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Nigella sativa and its effects on inflammatory factors in patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms and the process their clinical study charges.

Setting

The present study is a clinical trial that conducted as prospective and double blind with descriptive analytic.

Materials and methods

The sample included 66 patients (case and placebo) with allergic rhinitis exposed to N. sativa oil. Individual characteristics, including age and sex, and characteristics of the disease, including nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, and sneezing attacks, were evaluated. From the start of the study, that is, day 0, up to the end of the study, that is, day 30, an observer completed the symptoms severity questionnaire.

Statistical analysis

Data were presented as means ± SEM. Comparisons between groups were performed by using paired Student t test. Differences were considered significant if P values are less than .05 and .01.

Results

In the present study, 66 patients with allergic rhinitis, including 22 males (33.3%) and 44 females (66.7%) with a mean age of 47.19 years, were included. Immunoglobulin E total of more than 100 was reported in 38 patients before treatment. Immunoglobulin E in nasal wash from 7 patients was observed and was not measurable in 59 cases. Only 6.1% of the study population had nasal mucosal eosinophil.

Conclusion

The results show that N. sativa could reduce the presence of the nasal mucosal congestion, nasal itching, runny nose, sneezing attacks, turbinate hypertrophy, and mucosal pallor during the first 2 weeks (day 15). The present findings are consistent with evidence that the antiallergic effects of N. sativa components could be attributed to allergic rhinitis. Moreover, N. sativa should be considered for treating allergic rhinitis when the effects of other antiallergic drugs need to be avoided.

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic and allergic disease, especially in children, and its prevalence in the communities is increasing due to industrialization [1]. The prevalence has been reported from 1.4% to 39.7% in different Western countries, and in England, it increased 4 times during the previous 30 years, in which the cause is not clearly known [2], [3]. The reported prevalence in our country includes the wide spectrum ranging from 7.2% to 23.6% [4], [5], [6]. The disease develops due to increased inflammatory cells such as neutrophil, eosinophil, and basophil and mast cell [7]. The signs and symptoms of this disease include stimulation of mucous glands, vasodilatation, increased vascular permeability, and stimulated mucus that themselves are responsible for creating typical symptoms such as itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal congestion [8]. Allergens that usually caused allergic rhinitis include 2 seasonal and permanent categories that divided mainly to the pollen group, and the second group includes plants Mayt, mold, animal particles, and cockroach particles [9]. Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis usually is done by a histamine receptor antagonist, sympathomimetic, and corticosteroids [10].

Considering the growing importance of research that works on the effects of treatment plants and stuck them in the treatment of the diseases, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Nigella sativa and its effects on inflammatory factors in patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms and the process their clinical study charges.

Section snippets

Study design and population

The present study is a clinical trial that conducted as prospective and double blind with descriptive analytic. The sample included 66 patients (case and placebo) with allergic rhinitis referred to ear nose and throat clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahwaz, during the years 2007 to 2009 and were exposed to N. sativa oil. The study was approved by the University Hospital and Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committees, and all subjects provided informed consent to

Results

In the present study, 66 patients with allergic rhinitis, including 22 males (33.3%) and 44 females (66.7%) with a mean (SD) age of 20.81 (7.27) years, were included. From the total sample, 3 patients from the case group and 4 subjects from placebo were excluded from the study because they refused to complete the study. The age distribution of the patients in the study group is shown in Fig. 1. Immunoglobulin E total of more than 100 was reported in 38 patients before treatment. Immunoglobulin

Discussion

N. sativa is widely known to have wide therapeutic applications in herbal medicine, and scientific advancement through technology has provided substantial evidence to support most of its medicinal claims. The present study has further demonstrated the antihistamine potential of this plant seeds.

More than 50% of the patients (57.5%) in this study presented with high total IgE (>100 IU/mL). In the other hand, high total IgE (>100 IU/mL) is not always accompanied by allergy symptoms, and even

Conclusion

The present findings are consistent with evidence that the antiallergic effects of N. sativa components could be attributed to allergic rhinitis. Moreover, N. sativa should be considered for treating allergic rhinitis when the effects of other antiallergic drugs need to be avoided.

Acknowledgment

The authors want to thanks the research deputy and Mr. Bahman Cheragian and Dr. Melihe Yavari for their valuable cooperation. This research work was result of a MD thesis (Ref-No. 102) that has been funded.

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Financial support: Research Deputy of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.

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