A Study of the Role of Nigella Sativa Oil in the Eradication of H.Pylori Infection in Symptomatic Children

Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is a gram-negative flagellated spiral bacterium which is usually acquired during childhood, and the infection persists throughout life unless specifically treated. Resistance against H.pylori is increasing, and it is necessary to find new effective agents. Nigella sativa has possible role of N. sativa oil in eradication of H.pylori infection in symptomatic children.
Aim of Study: The aim as present work was to study the possible role of N.sativa oil in eradication of H.pylori infection in symptomatic children.
Subjects and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was carried out on 60 symptomatic children with being proven positive for H.pylori stool antigen test from those attending the Diarrheal Diseases and Nutrition Unit of Pediatric Depart-ment at Tanta University. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: Group 1: Included 20 patients who received triple therapy for two weeks including clarithromycin 15mg/kg/day divided into two doses + metri-nodazole 15-20mg/kg/day divided into two doses + omeprazole 1mg/kg/day, for two weeks. Group 2: Included 20 patients who received 2g Nigella sativa oil two capsules (each of 450mg) twice daily after meals and omeprazole 1mg/kg/day for two weeks. Group 3: Included 20 patients who received triple therapy combined with Nigella sativa oil for two weeks. All patients had a full sheet, complete clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations (CBC, ALT, AST, BUN, S.creatinine, ESR), occult blood in stool, H.pylori antigen in stool before and after treatment and assessment of severity of dyspepsia using "Modified Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score" before and after treatment.
Results: There was statistically significant differences between the three studied groups as regard H.pylori antigen in stool after treatment. The difference was evident on com-paring either Group I or Group III versus Group II. Signifi-cantly more cases in Group I (65%) and in Group III (75%) became negative to H.pylori antigen in stool in comparison to only (30%) of the patients in Group II.
Conclusion: Addition of N.sativa to the traditional triple therapy increased the probability of H.pylori eradication more than that achieved through triple therapy alone.