Black Seed (Nigella sativa) Efficacy in Improving Clinical Symptoms and Interleukin-6 Levels Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia with a global prevalence of 0.33–0.75% and one of the top 15 causes of disability. The etiology underlying this disease is still controversial. One of the causes is the Vulnerability Stress-Schizophrenia Inflammatory Model which shows an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, one of which is Interleukin-6 (IL-6). AIM: It is hoped that through the adjuvant anti-inflammatory effect of black seed or Nigella sativa can improve the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce levels of Serum IL-6 as a marker of therapeutic efficacy, as well as observing the effect of treatment on liver function. METHODS: The present study was conducted 22 schizophrenic patients hospitalized at the psychiatric hospital (Rumah Sakit Khusus Daerah) of South Sulawesi aged 20–45 years and received risperidone 4 mg/day therapy. Patients were divided into two groups, the control and treatment groups received N. sativa 1000 mg/d for 4 weeks. Each group was measured for baseline and week 4 clinical symptoms of schizophrenia with Positive and Negative Symptom of Schizophrenia (PANSS) and serum IL-6 levels. The analysis also measured serum IL-6 levels in 14 healthy people by assessing the side effects of N. sativa adjuvants by measuring liver function enzymes of Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT). RESULTS: Serum IL-6 levels of schizophrenic patients were higher than healthy controls. Administration of adjuvant N. sativa 1000 mg for 4 weeks significantly p < 0.001 improved PANSS value, decreased serum IL-6 levels 2.5 times faster in the treatment group and did not give a significant change in SGOT and SGPT values. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that N. sativa may consider as an adjuvant therapy to improve clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce levels of IL-6 was faster than control group and is safe for liver function.