Original ContributionHerbal treatment of allergic rhinitis: the use of Nigella sativa☆
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.
References (18)
- et al.
Impact of specific allergen sensitization on the prevalence of asthma in patients with allergic rhinitis from adjacent distinct geographic areas
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
(2008) - et al.
Evidence of ICAM-1 expression on nasal epithelial cells in acute rhinoconjunctivitis due to pollen exposure
J Allergy Clin Immunol
(1994) - et al.
Soluble adhesion molecules and cytokines in perennial allergic rhinitis
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
(1998) The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity of Nigella sativa
J Ethnopharmacol
(2001)- et al.
Allergic rhinitis and the common cold—high cost to society
Allergy
(2009) - et al.
Prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in Sanliurfa, Turkey, and the relation to environmental and socioeconomic factors: is the hygiene hypothesis enough?
J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol
(2006) - et al.
Frequency of diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis among adults with asthma in Germany, France, and the UK: National Health and Wellness Survey
Curr Med Res Opin
(2009) - et al.
Allergic disease in 6–7-year-old school children in Urmia, Islamic Republic of Iran
East Mediterr Health J
(2008) - et al.
Prevalence of aeroallergens in allergic rhinitis in Shiraz
Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol
(2003)
Cited by (0)
- ☆
Financial support: Research Deputy of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.