Black Seed Extract decreases the number of seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy

According to a report in the April 10th, 2003 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, one-third of patients with epilepsy have drug resistant epilepsy. Because this form is resistant to multiple antiepileptic drugs making it difficult to treat it is associated with an increased risk of death and debilitating psychosocial consequences. Studies show it is a genetic factor that leads to this drug-therapy resistance. Doctors at the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences state that in traditional medicine, Nigella Sativa (Black Seed) has been known for its anticonvulsant effects. This plant is naturally distributed in the Middle-East and has been widely used as a natural remedy for a long time.
In this double-blinded crossover clinical trial conducted on children with refractory epilepsy, a liquid extract of Black Seed was administered as an adjunct to medical therapy and the effects were compared with those of a placebo. Twenty children completed the study (13 months to 13 years old, 10 boys and 10 girls). All patients were receiving constant treatment for at least one month before the study. They received extract (40 mg/kg/8 h) or placebo for a period of four weeks and in the cross-over between these periods for two weeks they received only their pre-existing anti-epileptic drugs. RESULTS: The mean frequency of seizures decreased significantly during treatment with extract Black Seed Extract in both groups. The study is published in the December 2007 issue of Medical Science Monitor; International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research.

Effect of citrus flavonoids and tocotrienols on serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects

Preliminary studies show that Citrus Flavonoids and Palm Tocotrienols both independently reduce cholesterol levels in laboratory animals. In the following three human clinical trials a combination of Citrus Flavonoids and Tocotrienols were used to gauge its ability to lower cholesterol. All participants were hypercholesterolemic men and women with cholesterol levels greater than 230 mg/dL and all were between the ages of 19 and 65 years when recruited.
In the first study (open-label) 10 patients were given a combination of 270mg Citrus Flavonoids and 30mg Tocotrienols or they were given inactive placebo daily for four-weeks. In the second study (also open-label) 10 patients were given the same combination once again for four-weeks. In the third study which was double-blinded, 120 patients were given the same combination of 270mg Citrus Flavonoids and 30mg Tocotrienols or they were given inactive placebo, but this time for twelve-weeks. Measurements of fasting levels of blood cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides were made at baseline and 4 weeks (all groups) and at 8 weeks and 12 weeks. Significant reductions were shown in total cholesterol with a drop of 20%-30%, LDL with a drop of 19%-27%, apolipoprotein B dropped 21%, and triglycerides dropped 24%-34% in all groups. HDL levels remained unchanged in the four-week trials but increased by 4% in the twelve-week trial and this was accompanied by a significant increase in apolipoprotein A1 by 5%; this is the active lipoprotein found in HDL. The study is published in the November-December 2007 issue of the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.