This study gives strength to the potential relevance of NS in clinical management of RA through modulation of T lymphocytes.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Nigella sativa oil extract on cardiometabolic risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A randomized, controlled, clinical trial was conducted on 43 patients with T2D (23 women and 20 men; aged 53.5 ± 7.4 years). The intervention group (N = 23) received two 500-mg per day soft gel capsules containing Nigella sativa oil extract and the control group (N = 20) received two identical placebo soft gel capsules containing sunflower oil per day for the same period, 8 weeks. Pre-and post-intervention cardiometabolic risk factors were measured. Compared with the placebo, the N. sativa oil significantly decreased FBS (p = .03(, HbA1c (p = .001), total cholesterol (p = .04), TG (p = .003), LDL-c (p = .001), BMI (p < .001), waist circumference (p < .001), SBP (p = .001), and DBP (p = .002). HOMA-IR (p = .51) and HDL-c (p = .91) did not change significantly following Nigella sativa supplementation. Nigella sativa oil exerted beneficial effects on glycemic control, serum lipid profile, blood pressure, and body weight among people with T2D. Further long-term trials in the future may help confirm the current therapeutic benefits of Nigella sativa in T2D.

Oxidative stress is an important factor in the etiology of several chronic diseases that include cardiovascular disease (CVD), Type 2 diabetes (T2D), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Oxidative stress can lead to inflammation, and this can contribute to these chronic diseases. Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress may, therefore, be useful in the prevention and treatment of these conditions. One of the treatment options for chronic diseases is the use of traditional medicine and herbs, such as Nigella sativa. This is one of the herbs that have recently been assessed for its ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. We have reviewed the reported effects of N. sativa on risk factors of chronic diseases (CVD, DM, and RA) with emphasis on molecular and cellular mechanisms in controlling inflammation and oxidative stress. Various mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to the beneficial properties of N. sativa, including a reduction of lipid peroxidation via its antioxidant properties; agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in adipose tissue; activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, increased antioxidants, inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B pathway; increased in interleukin-10 expression, CD4+ T-cell percentage, T regulatory cell percentage (CD4+ CD25+ T-cell) in peripheral blood, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio, but to prove this claim, it is necessary to conduct experimental and well-designed clinical trial studies with a larger sample size on the effects of N. sativa on these chronic diseases.

Background Emerging evidence indicates that propolis as a novel potential antioxidant has unique benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of propolis on oxidative stress, inflammation, body composition, and athletic performance in healthy active subjects. Methods This clinical trial was conducted on 54 male military cadets. Eligible subjects were randomly allocated to receive a single dose of 450 mg propolis twice daily for four weeks or a matching placebo containing microcrystalline cellulose. Cooper 12‐min run test and running‐based anaerobic sprint test were performed to measure aerobic and anaerobic performance. Blood samples were obtained immediately after Cooper's test to evaluate oxidative stress and inflammation status. Fat mass and fat‐free mass were analyzed using bioelectrical impedance. Results Mean changes in fat mass, fat‐free mass, anaerobic powers, fatigue index, and VO2 max did not differ significantly between the two groups after the adjustment for baseline values (P‐value>0.05). A significant change was observed in plasma levels of IL‐6 (−1.43 ± 0.11pg/mL), total oxidant status (−3.9 ± 0.2µmol/L), total antioxidant capacity (164 ± 12 µmol/L), malondialdehyde (−0.52 ± 0.03µmol/L), oxidative stress index (−0.45 ± 0.04), and glutathione (48.72±2µmol/L) in the propolis group compared with the placebo group after the adjustment for baseline values and weight changes (P‐value<0.05). Although IL‐10 concentrations had no significant changes in both groups, the ratio of IL‐6/IL‐10 significantly reduced in the propolis group compared with the placebo group (−0.174 ± 0.015 versus. 0.051 ± 0.014; P‐value: 0.041). Conclusions Our results indicated that propolis might have beneficial effects on oxidative stress and inflammation following intense activities in healthy male subjects.

Background There are growing interests in using dietary supplements to improve athletic performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the food ration bar enriched with β‐alanine, L‐arginine, and Nigella sativa on athletic performance and inflammation following intense military training. Methods This double‐blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 54 new cadets. Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive food ration bars enriched with arginine (2 g/day), β‐alanine (2 g/day), and Nigella sativa (2 g/day) or nonenriched food ration bars during a 2‐week military training. Aerobic and anaerobic performances were evaluated by the Cooper and RAST tests, respectively. Results A significant increase in anaerobic powers (min, mean, and max) and a significant reduction in fatigue index were observed in the intervention group as compared to the control group, even after the adjustment for confounding factors. Also, increased levels of hs‐CRP and TNF‐α following military training were significantly lower in the intervention group as compared to the control group (hs‐CRP: 0.55 ± 0.1 versus 2.43 ± 0.1 mg/L; p‐value: 0.01; TNF‐α: 0.12 ± 0.04 versus 0.62 ± 0.04 pg/ml; p‐value: 0.03). No significant changes were observed in VO2 max in both groups. Conclusions Our results showed that the combination of β‐alanine, L‐arginine, and Nigella sativa can improve anaerobic performance and reduce inflammation following intense physical activities. Further studies with long‐term duration are needed to confirm the cumulative/synergic effects of these ingredients in trained and nontrained subjects.