Effectiveness of Nigell sativ oil in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients: Placebo controlled study

The constituents of Nigell sativ modulate the immune system. The aim of the present work was to study the effectiveness of Nigell sativ oil in R patients. Dat from 40 female R patients diagnosed according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR were analysed and discussed. The patients took two placebo (starch filled) capsules daily for 1 month. This was followed by month of Nigell sativ oil capsules 500 mg twice/day. The disease activity score (DAS-28) significantly decreased after receiving the Nigell sativ capsules (4.55 ± 0.82) compared with before and after placebo (4.98 ± 0.79 and 4.99 ± 0.72, respectively) (p = 0.017). Similarly, the number of swollen joints and the duration of morning stiffness improved. marked improvement in the disease activity was shown by both the ACR20 and EULAR response criteri in 42.5% and 30% of the patients, respectively, after intake of Nigella. Supplementation with Nigell sativ during DMARD therapy in R may be considered an affordable potential adjuvant biological therapy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.