Black seed (Nigella sativa) as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis Clinical trial

Abstract

Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of black seed oil on clinical symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers as an adjuvant therapy on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Materials and Methods: Twenty-five RA patients were enrolled, and each received one capsule of 1000 mg black seed oil daily as adjuvant therapy with DMARDs for eight weeks. Disease activity score for 28 joints (DAS28), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10), white blood cells (WBCs), renal function and liver function tests were assessed at baseline and at the end of the trial.
Results: the results show a significant decrease in the DAS28 score and the VAS for pain in RA patients. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and a number of WBCs were decreased significantly while the increment of serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was statistically non-significant. No significant changes occurred in the levels of urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
Conclusion: black seed oil as an add-on therapy induced a significant improvement in clinical symptoms and inflammation of RA.