Nigella Sativa Has Beneficial Effect on Osteoporosis and Bone Healing. Is It Fact or Fiction? A Systematic Review

Abstract

Osteoporosis is the most common reason for a broken bone among the elderly. Several experimental studies have been reported that Nigella sativa (NS) and/or its major component thymoquinone (TQ) have good effects on osteoporosis and bone healing. We conducted this systematic review to evaluate these relevant studies to prove whether NS and/or TQ has potential effect on osteoporosis and can stop pathogenesis of this disease or this matter still just a fiction. A search on published studies was done using databases including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and CINAHIL. Terms searched included "Nigella sativa, black seed, TQ, osteoporosis, bone healing." Initially, 213 articles were extracted. After reviewing their titles and abstracts, 124 articles (Medline, 43; Scopus, 67; EBSCO, 14) were retrieved for further evaluation. However, after excluding the clinical trial studies, human reviews, removal of abstracts and unrelated studies, seven studies were considered finally as eligible for our review. Finally, seven studies were considered eligible for our review. The total number of animals used was 220 (150 rats and 70 rabbits) from different experimental study. Based on the results of this systematic review, we conclude that NS or TQ extract therapy for osteoporosis cannot be recommended yet and these data will not suffice to exclude the beneficial effects of NS on bone turnover reliably. Therefore, more studies are required to explore the specific cellular and molecular targets of NS or TQ using animal osteoporosis models. Once the anti-osteoporotic effectiveness of NS or TQ will be established, human studies can be carried out.

The effect of nanomicelle curcumin supplementation and Nigella sativa oil on the expression level of miRNA‐21, miRNA‐422a, and miRNA‐503 gene in postmenopausal women with low bone mass density: A randomized, triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial with factorial design

“…In a systematic review study to investigate the effect of NS on OP, seven experimental studies were eligible to enter the study on a total number of 220 (150 mice and 70 rabbits) animals. Based on the results of this systematic review, treatment of NS or TQ extract for OP is not yet recommended, and these data are not sufficiently reliable to rule out the beneficial effects of NS on bone circulation (T Osman, 2017). Another clinical trial to investigate the effects of NS supplements on bone markers in postmenopausal women did not show any beneficial effects of NS on bone markers (Valizadeh et al, 2015).…”

“…The action mechanism of NS on OP is due to the presence of TQ (Shuid et al, 2012). Since recent studies have shown an association between oxidative stress and inflammation with OP, TQ due to its antioxidant properties with a mechanism to counteract the damaging effects of free radicals on bone and also anti‐inflammatory properties with a mechanism to inhibit prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis can have a protective effect on the bone (Ansari & Batra, 2013; V. Hadi et al, 2016; Shuid et al, 2012; T Osman, 2017).…”

Utilization of Nanotechnology to Improve Bone Health in Osteoporosis Exploiting Nigella sativa and Its Active Constituent Thymoquinone

“…NS extracts have shown good bone formation and healing in various osteoporotic models [ 94 ]. Regenerated bones after NS treatment have shown detailed blood vessels in the bone marrow.…”

Using the Simulated Patient Methodology to Assess the Quality of Counselling in German Community Pharmacies: A Systematic Review From 2005 to 2018

“…Furthermore, only 23 records could be identified and only 5 papers could be included. On the other hand, few identified records [68,69] and very few [70][71][72][73][74] or no [75,76] included studies are not unusual in systematic reviews. Also, the included papers have a relatively low level of evidence (CS design) and moreover 1 paper [36] used only a small convenient sample of a major city and 3 papers [38][39][40] are only representatives of a medium-sized city.…”