Antiasthmatic effect of Nigella sativa in airways of asthmatic patients

In the present study, the antiasthmatic (bronchodilatory) effect of the boiled extract of Nigella sativa in the airways of asthmatic patients was examined. The bronchodilatory effects of 50 and 100 mg/kg of boiled extract in comparison with 6 mg/kg theophylline were studied on 15 asthmatic patients. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF), maximal expiratory flow at 75, 50 and 25% of the FVC (MEF 75, MEF 50, and MEF 25, respectively) and specific airway conductance (sGaw) were measured before administration and repeated , 30, 60, 90 120, 150, and 180 min after administration of the oral extract and theophylline. The results showed that the extract caused significant increases in all measured pulmonary function tests (PFTs), in most time intervals, (p