Using Local Nigella Sativa Oil to Relief Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms
Ezat Samadipour; PhD1, Roya Akbarzadeh; MSc*1,2 & Akram Kooshki; PhD1,3
1 Non Communicable Diseases Research Center, School Paramedical, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
2 Department of Anesthesia & Operating Room, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
3 Department of Nutrition & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
ARTICLE INFO |
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ABSTRACT |
ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
Background: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a common problem in women. Nigella sativa has been suggested for its anti-inflammation and analgesic effects. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Nigella sativa oil on PMS. Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 124 female students within the age range of 18-25 years living in the dormitories of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (IG) rubbed 1-2 drops of Nigella sativa oil on their fontanels at night for seven days before their three menstrual cycles. The placebo group (PG) rubbed placebo in the same way. After three cycles, pain severity was measured by the visual analog scale. Data analysis was carried out using the Mann-Whitney U test and analysis of covariance. Results: The mean age of participants, the mean age of menarche, and the mean age of PMS onset were 20.55 ± 0.2, 13.52 ± 0.15, and 15.35 ± 0.3 years old, respectively. The results showed that Nigella sativa oil reduced the severity of all PMS symptoms except in terms of depression and abdominal bloating in IG compare to the PG. Conclusion: Nigella sativa oil in women with premenstrual syndrome can be a promising, safe, and easily available analgesic supplement. Keywords: Premenstrual Syndrome; Nigella sativa; Menstruation |
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Article history: Received: 7 Nov 2020 Revised: 6 Mar 2021 Accepted: 6 Mar 2021 |
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*Corresponding author: roakbarzader53@gmail.com Pardis of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Bolvar of Shohadye Hastehei, Sabzevar, Iran. Postal code: 9617913112 Tel: +51-44018364 |
Introduction
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Table 1. Participants’ characteristics in the Nigella sativa and placebo groups |
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Variables |
Total |
Nigella sativa oil |
Placebo |
P-valuea |
Age (y) |
20.55 ± 0.20b |
20.89 ± 0.23 |
20.23 ± 0.31 |
0.1 |
Menarche age (y) |
13.52 ± 0.15 |
13.68 ± 0.19 |
13.34 ± 0.24 |
0.33 |
Age of experiencing dysmenorrhea (y) |
15.35 ± 0.30 |
15.55 ± 0.38 |
15.20 ± 0.31 |
0.62 |
Body mass index (kg/m2) |
21.27 ± 0.40 |
21.44 ± 1.59 |
21.49 ± 1.70 |
0.46 |
a: Mann-Whitney U test, b: Mean ± SD |
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Table 2. Severity of each symptom in the two groups before and after the intervention |
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P-valuea |
After |
Before |
Group |
Symptoms |
0.10 |
4.41 ± 1.12 |
4.22 ± 1.11b |
Nigella sativa oil |
Depression |
0.10 |
4.40 ± 1.15 |
4.21 ± 1.13 |
Placebo |
|
0.01 |
3.37 ± 1.13 |
3.97 ± 1.11 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Nervousness |
0.10 |
4.45 ± 1.16 |
4.38 ± 1.12 |
Placebo |
|
0.02 |
4.06 ± 0.09 |
4.40 ± 0.70 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Jitteriness |
0.01 |
5.05 ± 0.10 |
4.30 ± 1.16 |
Placebo |
|
0.01 |
3.48 ± 1.10 |
4.13 ± 1.12 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Anxiety |
0.50 |
4.57 ± 2.05 |
4.43 ± 2.15 |
Placebo |
|
0.05 |
2.84 ± 0.13 |
3.03 ± 0.11 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Low concentration |
0.10 |
3.23 ± 0.15 |
3.34 ± 0.16 |
Placebo |
|
0.01 |
3.43 ± 0.13 |
3.90 ± 0.10 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Social activity |
0.60 |
4.50 ± 1.17 |
4.43 ± 1.16 |
Placebo |
|
0.01 |
4.63 ± 0.13 |
5.22 ± 0.14 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Breast tenderness |
0.90 |
5.55 ± 0.11 |
5.52 ± 0.14 |
Placebo |
|
0.10 |
3.75 ± 1.00 |
3.56 ± 1.10 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Bloating |
0.90 |
3.87 ± 0.63 |
3.84 ± 0.12 |
Placebo |
|
0.01 |
3.63 ± 0.20 |
4.22 ± 0. 40 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Headache |
0.90 |
4.55 ± 0.11 |
4.52 ± 0.14 |
Placebo |
|
0.05 |
2.18 ± 0.13 |
2.41 ± 0.12 |
Nigella sativa oil |
Edema |
0.10 |
2.41 ± 0.17 |
2.27 ± 0.15 |
Placebo |
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a:ANCOVA test, b: Mean ± SD |
Discussion
In the present study, Nigella sativa oil reduced the overall severity of symptoms associated with PMS including mental and physical ones. Given that we found no research investigating on the effect of Nigella sativa on PMS symptoms, it was not possible for us to compare our results with those of other studies. However, some studies reported the effects of Nigella sativa on different human body systems and organs. For instance, Al-Negar et al. reported the analgesic effect of Nigella sativa on CNS (Al-Naggar et al., 2003). Several studies showed that Nigella sativa could inhibit inflammation by reducing the production of nitric oxide, cytokine interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 as well as inhibiting the transcription Kβ factor. Some studies yielded that Nigella sativa reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators MCP-1, TNF-α, interlukin-β1, and Cox-2, inhibited histone deacetylase enzyme, and induced histone hyper acetylation. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Nigella sativa were also reported in previous investigations. Most of the pharmacological properties of Nigella sativa are attributed to quinine constituents, of which tiomoquinon (TQ) is the most abundant (Ahmad et al., 2013, Al-Naggar et al., 2003, Darakhshan et al., 2015). A recent study found an association between PMS and chronic inflammation (Bertone-Johnson, 2016).
Sohrabi et al. investigated the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the psychiatric as well as somatic symptoms of PMS (Sohrabi et al., 2010). They found that the intervention not only reduced PMS psychiatric symptoms, including depression, nervousness, anxiety, and lack of concentration, but also decreased somatic symptoms induced by PMS, namely abdominal bloating, headache, and breast tenderness. In another study, Rocha Filho et al. showed that omega-3 oil relieved PMS symptoms (Rocha Filho et al., 2011). However, kooshki et al. found that treatment with omega-3 did not significantly reduce PMS symptoms in the intervention group compared to the control group (Tofighiyan et al., 2013). In another study, Sodouri et al. showed that Zataria Multiflora Boiss could not improve PMS symptoms significantly (Sodouri et al., 2013). Additionally, Khayat et al. demonstrated that ginger was effective in relieving mood, physical, and behavioral symptoms of PMS (Khayat et al., 2014).
Effects of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds on the uterine smooth muscle of rats and guinea pigs were investigated in vitro using isolated uterine horns by Aqel (Aqel and Shaheen, 1996). The volatile oil of Nigella seeds inhibited the spontaneous movements of rat and guinea pig uterine smooth muscle and also the contractions induced by oxytocin stimulation. They finally yielded anti- oxytocic potential effects of the volatile oil of Nigella seeds (Reiter and Brandt, 1985).
Nigella sativa oil is easier to use in the fontanels than on the abdomen and its aromatherapy effects at night facilitates a restful sleep, which reduces the psychological effects of PMS. We also suggest applying a little of Nigella sativa oil in fontanel at night due to its antispasmodic, analgesic, anti- inflammatory, and anti- oxytocic effects (Younesy et al., 2014) that help to release both physically and psychologically premenstrual pain. Given that many women with PMS suffer from increased uterine contractions, Nigella sativa oil is suggested for relieving the symptoms of PMS according to findings of this study.
Conclusion
The finding of the present study showed that Nigella sativa oil was effective in relieving the syndrome of PMS. Considering that gentle massage is an inexpensive method with little or no side effects, the participants' compliance was high.
Acknowledgement
Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences financially supported the present study. The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of participating students, without whom this research would not have been possible.
Conflict interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
Kooshki A, Samadi E, and Akbarzadeh R designed research; Kooshki A and Samadi E conducted research; Kooshki A analyzed data; and Kooshki A, Samadi E, and Akbarzadeh R composed the paper. Kooshki A had primary responsibility for final content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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