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Black Cumin Oil: A New Treatment for Palmoplantar Psoriasis Naseer A. Al-Harchan
J Fac Med Baghdad Vol. 52, No 2, 2010
Black Cumin Oil: A New Treatment for Palmoplantar Psoriasis
Naseer A. Al-Harchan* MBChB, PhD
Summary:
Background: Palmoplantar psoriasis is a therapeutically challenging condition that can significantly
impact patient quality of life as it directly affects activities. However, despite this impact, few clinical
studies address treatment. Herbs and their extracts have been used for treatment of skin disease for
centuries. One of the most popular herbs in our society is black cumin or seed of blessing oil (Nigella
Sativa); this plant had diverse clinically useful activity.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology
in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Iraq during the period between January and October 2003. In this single-
blind randomly controlled therapeutic study, thirty patients were enrolled, their ages ranged from 22-65
years. There were 18` females and 12 males. The patients were divided into 2 groups; group A (20
patient) instructed to use nigella sativa 10% ointment twice daily for 3 months, while group B (10
patient) used a control ointment(Vaseline) . Statistical analyses were carried out by computer using t-
test, and chi-square when needed.
Results: twenty-four patients completed the study. In group A (18 patients), we noted a significantly
reduction of the thickness and fissuring of the skin of the affected part which was also become very soft
after 3 months of therapy. The response of patients to treatment was good in 50%, moderate in 27.8%
and mild response in 22.2%. The satisfaction of patients with treatment was full in 61.1%, partial in
27.8%, and no satisfaction in 11.1%. In group B (6 patients), the lesions showed no significant reduction
after 3 months and the response of patients to treatment was good in 16.6%, moderate in 33.4%, and
mild response in 50%. The satisfaction of patients with treatment in this group was full in 16.6%, partial
in 50%, and no satisfaction in 33.4%. The difference in outcome after 12 weeks between the 2 study
groups was statistically significant.
Conclusion: The ointment of the black cumin is considered as a very good remedy for the palmoplantar
psoriasis. This remedy is considered to be very safe, cheap and easy to prepare with no serious side
effects as compared to the previous ointments for this type of psoriasis.
Key words: Black Cumin, Palmoplantar Psoriasis
Introduction:
Psoriasis is a chronic, unpredictable, and incurable
disease that, although not life-threatening, can severely
impair a patient’s quality of life (1) .The disease is
frequently complicated by pain and itching that can
disrupt everyday activities. Psoriasis causes significant
functional, psychological, and social problems (1, 2).
When psoriasis involves the palms and soles, it is
referred to as palmoplantar psoriasis. Palm and sole
involvement can be painful and disabling, as the acral
skin lesions can interfere with a variety of functions
(3,4).The pain and discomfort of palmoplantar
psoriasis could result in greater functional and social
disability than psoriasis located elsewhere on the body
(4).In recent years, the armamentarium of psoriasis
therapies has become a vast array of topical and
systemic treatments (5). For limited disease, topical
corticosteroids, topical vitamin D3 derivatives, topical
retinoids, intralesional corticosteroids, and /or the
excimer laser are commonly used (5,6). More
extensive disease is usually treated with light therapy,
*Department of clinical pharmacology, college of
medicine, university of Bahgdad
including broadband ultraviolet B, and psoralen
photochemotherapy, or systemic therapy such as
acitretin, methotrexate, cyclosporine, and/or an
immunobiologic drug (etanercept, infliximab,
adalimumab, alefacept, or efalizumab) (6,7). For the
patient whose psoriasis is treatment-resistant or who
experiences intolerable adverse effects to multiple
therapies, the alternative therapies must be kept in
mind (8, 9).
Black cumin is annular herbaceous plant, widely
cultivated throughout South Europe, Egypt, Syria,
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. Black cumin
contain both fixed and essential oils, proteins,
alkaloids, and saponin. Much of the biological activity
of the seeds has been shown to be due to
thymoquinone the major component of its oil (10).It
has been shown that Nigella sativa seed and oil are
effective anti-microbial (11), immunomodulatory (12),
antioxidant (13), anti-inflammatory (14) and with
antitumor activity (15). The diversity of therapeutic
activity of black cuminis due to the diversity of the
active compounds that it contains.
Remedy extracted from black cumin showed
promising results in many dermatological conditions.
Fac Med Baghdad
2010; Vol. 52, No. 2
Received Dec.2009
Accepted Feb., 2010
Original Article
B
lack
J
Fac
In o
u
extrac
scabi
e
More
o
of rec
(17).
T
b
lack
psori
a
The p
evalu
a
patie
n
psori
a
of ps
o
Mate
r
This
Derm
a
Hospi
t
Octob
range
d
There
palm
a
sever
e
palm
a
meeti
n
taken
durati
o
that
e
topic
a
prese
n
In thi
s
local
cumi
n
with
ointm
e
clinic
a
Ethic
a
autho
r
Hospi
t
Bagh
d
each
p
Patie
n
A: In
black
on ho
w
mont
h
mont
h
the th
i
part a
n
In thi
mann
e
ointm
e
for 6
m
classi
f
reduc
t
with
d
whic
h
the s
k
Cumin Oil: A
Med Baghda
d
u
r country
w
c
ted from bla
c
e
s, pedicul
o
o
ver black cu
m
urrent aphtho
T
his leads us
t
cumin oil loti
a
sis.
resent prospe
a
te the effe
c
n
ts with pal
m
a
sis is difficul
t
o
riasis.
r
ials, patient
s
study was
c
a
tology and
V
t
al, Iraq duri
n
er 2003. Thir
t
d
from 22-65
y
were 18 fe
a
r plantar dis
e
e
psoriasis,
h
a
r or plantar
n
g these crite
r
from each
p
o
n of the dise
a
e
very patient
a
l treatment a
t
n
t therapy.
s
method, the
market (Ca
m
n
oil ointmen
t
petrolatu
m
i
n
e
nt in 10% c
a
l trial accord
i
a
l approval
r
ity of the
B
t
al and from
d
ad Universi
t
p
atient before
t
n
ts were divid
e
this group,
2
cumin oil oi
n
w
to use the
o
h
s and clini
c
h
ly. The asses
i
ckness and
fi
n
d also watc
h
s group, 10
p
e
r as descri
b
e
nt (Vaseline
)
m
onths The r
e
f
ied as: Go
o
t
ion in redne
s
d
isappearance
h
there is a re
d
k
in but there
i
New Treatm
e
d
w
e achieve
a
c
k cumin in t
r
o
sis and
m
in oil has
be
us ulceration
t
o consider t
h
on in the trea
t
ctive controll
e
c
tiveness of
b
m
oplantar pso
r
t
and resistant
s
and Metho
d
c
onducted in
V
enereology
i
n
g the period
t
y patients we
y
ears with a
m
males and 1
e
ase was de
f
h
aving at le
a
surface invo
l
r
ia were exclu
p
atient regard
i
a
se, previous
t
had stoppe
d
t
least 2 mon
t
black cumin
m
el brand,
S
t
was prepar
e
n
a ratio o
f
oncentration
w
i
ngly (16).
was obtain
e
B
aghdad Me
the Medica
l
t
y. Oral con
s
t
herapy.
e
d randomly
i
2
0 patients w
e
n
tmen
t
. Each
p
o
intment topic
c
al evaluati
o
sment was ca
r
fi
ssuring of th
e
h
ing for any s
i
p
atients wer
e
b
ed above, b
u
)
. All these p
a
e
sponse of pat
i
o
d response,
s
s of the ski
n
of fissuring.
M
d
uction in re
d
i
s still fissuri
n
e
nt fo
r
Palmo
p
a
successful
r
eatment of i
m
dermatophyt
o
e
en used in t
r
and atopic d
e
h
e possibility
o
t
ment of pal
m
e
d study is c
a
b
lack cumin
r
iasis as this
to the standa
r
d
s:
the Depart
m
i
n Baghdad
T
between Jan
u
re enrolled, t
h
m
ean age 41 ±
2 males. Si
g
f
ined as mo
d
a
st 50% of
a
l
ved (18). T
h
u
ded. Full his
t
i
ng age, gen
d
t
reatment and
d
any syste
m
t
hs before sta
r
oil was bou
g
S
audi Arabia
)
e
d
b
y mixin
g
f
1:9 to pre
p
w
hich is use
d
e
d from the
dical City
T
l
College Co
u
s
ent was tak
e
i
nto 2 groups
:
e
re treated w
p
atient was i
n
ally, twice da
o
n was carr
r
ried out by
w
e
skin of the
i
de effects. G
r
e
treated in t
h
u
t using the
a
tients were
f
i
ents to treat
m
in which
t
n
and it bec
o
M
oderate res
p
d
ness and thic
k
n
g. Mild res
p
p
lantar Psori
a
remedy
m
petigo,
o
sis(16).
r
eatment
e
rmatitis
o
f using
m
oplantar
a
rried to
oil on
type of
r
d drugs
m
ent of
T
eaching
u
ary and
h
eir ages
7.5 SD.
g
nificant
d
erate to
a
single
h
ose not
t
ory was
d
er, and
ensured
m
ic and
r
ting the
g
ht from
)
. Black
g
the oil
p
are the
d
in this
health
T
eaching
u
ncil in
e
n from
:
Group
ith 10%
n
structed
a
ily for 3
ied out
w
atching
affected
roup B:
h
e same
control
f
ollowed
m
ent was
t
here is
o
me soft
p
onse, in
k
ness of
p
onse, in
a
sis
which ther
e
skin, is stil
l
the patients
satisfaction.
Statistical a
n
Both descri
p
Results:
Thirty pati
e
(80%) pati
e
group A t
h
and 6 male
s
patients, 3
patients (2
0
were consi
d
The overall
group Aat
t
good im
p
improveme
n
fourpatients
only showe
had moder
a
showed mi
l
b
etween th
significant
d
Figure 1-
R
after 3 m
o
square
Assessment
11 patients
partially sat
i
In group B
t
2 patients
(16.6%) ful
l
For sex, ag
e
present wo
r
therapy.
e
is just sligh
t
l
thick with
f
to the treat
m
2. Partial sa
t
n
alysis was c
a
p
tive and anal
y
e
nts were in
c
e
nts complete
d
h
ere were 18
s
(33.3%), w
h
females (50
%
0
%) did not
d
ered defaulte
r
response of
t
he end of 12
w
p
rovement
n
t (27.7%)
(22.2%). Re
g
d good impr
o
a
te improve
m
l
d improvem
e
e two grou
p
d
ifference (fig
R
esponse to
o
nths. * (P
≤
of patient sa
t
(61.1%) full
y
i
sfied, and 2
p
t
his showed,
3
(33.4%) par
t
l
y satisfie
d
(fi
g
e
of patients a
n
r
k showed n
o
Naseer A
Vol. 5
2
t
decrease in
f
issuring.The
m
ent are classi
f
t
isfaction. 3.
N
a
rried using S
P
y
tic data wer
e
c
luded in the
d
the course
o
patients, 12f
e
h
ile in group
B
%
) and 3 m
a
complete th
e
r
s for unknow
n
the patients
w
eeks showe
d
(50%), 5p
a
andmild i
m
g
arding
g
rou
p
o
vement (16.
6
m
ent (33.4%)
e
nt (50%).
T
p
s shows th
a
.1).
treatment i
n
≤
0.05) si
g
ni
f
t
isfaction in
g
y
satisfied, 5
p
p
atients (11.1
%
3
patients (50
%
t
ially satisfie
d
g
.2).
n
d duration o
f
o
difference
. Al-Harchan
2
, No 2, 2010
redness but t
h
satisfactions
f
ied into:1. F
u
N
o satisfacti
o
P
SS version
1
e
used.
study, and
2
o
f treatment.
e
males (66.6
%
B
, there wer
e
a
les (50%).
s
e
treatment a
n
n
reasons.
to treatment
d
9 patients ha
v
a
tients’moder
a
m
provement
p
B; one pati
e
6
%), 2 patie
n
and3 patie
n
T
he comparis
o
a
t there was
n
both
g
rou
f
icant with
c
g
roup A show
p
atients (27.8
%
%
) not satisfi
e
%
) not satisfi
e
d
, and 1pati
e
f
the disease, t
h
in response
h
e
of
u
ll
o
n.
1
6.
2
4
In
%
)
e
6
s
ix
n
d
in
v
e
a
te
in
e
nt
n
ts
n
ts
o
n
a
ps
c
hi
ed
%
)
e
d.
e
d,
e
nt
he
to
B
lack
J
Fac
Fi
g
ur
g
rou
p
chi s
q
Discu
The p
r
of pat
black
signif
i
3). T
h
contr
o
actio
n
of
b
la
c
attrib
u
A.An
t
palm
o
diseas
anti-i
n
effect
i
Black
effect
.
was
f
aspiri
n
thym
o
arach
i
(14).
sativa
of 5-
L
acid
(
show
e
b
iosy
n
impro
v
throu
g
B. Im
immu
n
(1).
D
used
i
as pa
l
know
n
done
t
effect
psori
a
The 1
effect
s
comp
a
com
m
Cumin Oil: A
Med Baghda
d
e 2-Satisfa
c
p
safter 3 mo
n
q
uare test.
ssion:
r
esent study
s
ients sufferin
g
cumin oil
i
cant improv
e
h
e improvem
o
l group is m
o
n
of the oil in
p
c
k
cumin oil
u
ted to the:-
t
i-inflammat
o
o
plantar psor
i
s
e, and eviden
c
n
flammatory
i
vely treat thi
s
cumin is wel
.
The anti-in
f
f
ound to be
n
, crude fixed
o
quinone inhi
i
donate meta
b
Moreover
A
oil produce a
L
O productio
n
(
5-HETE) pr
o
e
d that thymo
q
n
thesis (19).
v
ement of p
a
g
h its anti-infl
a
munomodul
a
n
e system pla
y
D
rugs that su
p
i
n treatment o
l
moplantar ps
o
n
immunomo
d
t
o show its e
ff
of black cu
m
a
sis action.
0% Black c
u
s
, and can
a
red with
o
m
only associa
t
New Treatm
e
d
c
tion to t
r
n
ths.* (P ≤
0
s
hows that aft
e
g
from palmo
ointment, th
e
e
ment in patie
ent in disea
s
o
re probably r
e
p
etrolatum (
V
on palmopla
n
o
r
y
Effect: I
t
i
asis is a g
e
c
e exists indi
c
therapy ha
s
s
condition (1,
l
l known to h
a
f
lammatory e
f
comparable
t
oil of black
c
i
bit COX an
d
b
olism in rat
A
nother stud
y
concentratio
n
n
and 5-hydr
o
o
duction (18
)
q
uinone dow
n
So black c
u
a
tients with p
a
mmatory eff
e
a
tor
y
Effect:
y
a role in pat
h
p
press immu
n
f resistance c
a
o
riasis (6,8).
d
ulatory and
ff
icacy (20). S
m
in may pl
a
u
min oil oint
m
be consider
e
o
ther topical
t
ed with loc
a
e
nt fo
r
Palmo
p
r
eatment i
n
0
.05) si
g
nific
a
e
r 3 months t
r
plantar psori
a
e
re was sta
t
nt’s disease
s
s
e state note
d
e
lated to the e
m
V
aseline). Th
e
n
tar psoriasis
c
t
is well kn
o
e
nuine infla
m
c
ating that ap
p
s
the pote
n
4).
a
ve anti-infla
m
ffect of blac
k
t
o that prod
u
c
umin oil and
d
5-LO path
w
peritoneal le
u
y
found that
n
dependent i
n
o
xy-eicosa-te
t
)
. Recently,
n
regulates le
u
u
min oil may
p
almoplantar
p
e
ct.
There is no d
o
h
ogenesis of
p
n
e system ha
v
a
ses of psori
a
Black cumin
several stud
i
o immunomo
a
y a role in
m
ent showed
e
d very sa
fe
therapies t
h
a
l and syste
m
p
lantar Psori
a
n
both
a
nt with
r
eatment
a
sis with
t
istically
s
tate (fig
d
in the
m
ollient
e
effects
c
ould be
o
wn that
m
matory
p
ropriate
n
tial to
m
matory
k
cumin
u
ced by
its pure
w
ays of
u
kocytes
Nigella
n
hibition
t
ra-enoic
a study
u
kotriene
lead to
p
soriasis
o
ubt that
p
soriasis
v
e been
a
sis such
is well-
i
es were
dulatory
its anti-
no side
fe
when
h
at are
m
ic side.
a
sis
The presen
t
cumin oil
palmoplant
a
In conclus
i
effective, s
a
treatment f
o
.
Figure 3-
lesion [A]
b
of treatme
n
References
:
1)
B
urns T
,
textbook of
2004.
2) Griffiths
R
J, Chimen
psoriasis
v
Dermatol 2
0
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p
heterogenei
t
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3
4) Kumar
lesion
s
in
p
Derm Vene
r
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e
the treatme
n
M
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acobi
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methotrexa
t
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r
7) Al-
M
uta
palmoplant
a
disease) wi
t
excellent r
e
2005;4:627
-
t
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m
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a
a
r psoriasis, a
s
i
on, 10% bl
a
a
fe, non-costl
y
o
r palmoplant
a
Photo
g
raph
s
b
efore treat
m
n
t with black
:
,
Breathnach
S
dermatology.
CE, Christo
p
ti S, Kruege
r
v
ulgaris acc
o
0
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hers E.
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soriasis: a
s
r
eol 2002;82:
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e
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H
to aleface
p
t
e in two pat
i
r
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iri N, Joshi
a
r keratoder
m
t
h psoriasis:
e
sponse to
a
-
34.
Naseer A
Vol. 5
2
m
ends the us
e
a
s a topica
s
it is a natura
l
a
ck cumin
o
y, and well-t
a
r psoriasis.
s
of the pl
a
m
ent, and [B]
cumin oil oi
n
S
, Cox N, Gr
if
Oxford: Bla
p
hers E, Bark
e
r
G, et al. A
c
o
rding to p
h
6
2. Explainin
g
w
ith psoriasi
s
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tudy of 306
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1
92-5.
e
pt is safe an
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ertl M. Dif
fe
p
t in com
i
ents with re
f
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A, Nou
r
-Eld
i
m
a (Buschke
-
a rare asso
c
a
citretin. J
D
. Al-Harchan
2
, No 2, 2010
e
of 10% Bla
l therapy
f
l
plant extract
.
o
il ointment
olerated topi
c
a
ntar psoria
s
after 3 mont
n
tment.
if
fiths C. Roo
k
ckwell Scien
c
e
r JN, Chalm
e
c
lassification
h
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