Medicinal benefits of Nigella sativa in bronchial asthma: A literature review

• Published in: Saudi pharmaceutical journal Vol. 25; no. 8; pp. 1130 - 1136
• Main Authors: Koshak, Abdulrahman, Koshak, Emad, Heinrich, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saudi Arabia Elsevier B.V 01.12.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Asthma; Black seed; Clinical studies; Nigella sativa; Traditional medicine; FeNO; RDBCT; IL; Nigella sativa; NS; IgE; Black seed; Traditional medicine; Asthma; ACT; GINA; FEV1; RDBPCT; Th1; Clinical studies; RSBPCT; Th2; IL, Interleukin; IgE, Immunoglobulin E; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; Th1, Type 1 T helper (Th1) cells; FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; RDBPCT, Randomised Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial; RSBPCT, Randomised Single-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial; NS, Nigella sativa L; GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma; RDBCT, Randomised Double-Blinded Clinical Trial; Th2, Type 2 T helper (Th2) cells; ACT, Asthma Control Test
• ISSN: 1319-0164; 2213-7475
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2017.07.002

Nigella sativa L. (NS) seeds, known as black seed, is a spice and a traditional herbal medicine used in various diseases including bronchial asthma. This review aimed to assess the studies supporting the medicinal use of NS in asthma and to highlight future research priorities. Various medical databases were searched for the effects of NS and its active secondary metabolites in asthma inflammation and outcomes. There were fourteen preclinical studies describing multiple effects of NS in animal or cellular models of asthma including bronchodilation, anti-histaminic, anti-inflammatory, anti-leukotrienes and immunomodulatory effects. Furthermore, seven clinical studies showed improvements in different asthma outcomes including symptoms, pulmonary function and laboratory parameters. However, often these studies are small and used ill-defined preparations. In conclusion, NS could be therapeutically beneficial in alleviating airway inflammation and the control of asthma symptoms, but the evidence remains scanty and is often based on poorly characterised preparations. Accordingly, well-designed large clinical studies using chemically well characterised NS preparation are required.