Effect of Baraka Oil on Heamopoesis

After treatment of two months the Hb concentration has increased by 10% for the initial level. This difference is due to the treatment even at the level of P< 0.001. PCV and MCV also have increased, but not significantly.

Baraka Black Seed oil has been used for the treatment of most of the ailments from time immemorial. 'Watikaprakaranaya' the Pharmacopoeia of Indigenous system of medicine contains most of the compound drugs, used in the system. Kaluduru (Seeds of Nigella sativa L.) is used in 80% of those compound drugs as an ingredient. Recent researches have shown that kaluduru has several pharmacological actions and now it is used to control Diabetics and Hypercholestremia.

It is also shown that Kaluduru has influence on Blood circulatory system system. According to pathological reports, hemoglobin and red blood cells count have been increased in-patients who are using Kaluduru in the form of Baraka Black Seed oil, for various medical purposes. This study was planned to see the effect of Baraka Black Seed oil on heamopoesis and the results of the study may be useful for the treatment of blood disorders. In the market Kaluduru is mostly available as Baraka Black Seed oil and it is used in several diseases as well as a general tonic and a food supplement.

Senior Lecturer, Department of Dravyaguna Vignana, Gampaha Wicramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, University Of Kelaniya, Yakkala. Research assistant, Department of Dravyaguna Vignana, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya

Total extraction of Kaluduru, which is known as Baraka Black Seed oil in the market, was used as the test drug. The dose was the usual dose prescribed for most of the other ailments. That is 2.5ml. twice a day. Drug was given to the volunteers and anemic patients who were selected from the clinics at Ayurveda Teaching Hospital, Borella. Pregnant women and those who are having other ailments or complications were not selected for the experiment. Selected persons were given test drug for the period of two months. Routine examinations and Hemoglobin concentration, Red blood cell count, Mean cell heamoglobin concentration, Mean cell hemoglobin, Platelets count, White blood cell count, Package cell volume and Mean cell volume were also done before start the treatments and after the treatment of one month and two months.

The volunteers whose heamoglobin concentration in the blood is less than normal value are selected for the trial. Some patients though they are having sufficient heamoglobin in the blood were selected as they had some anemic symptoms. Initial values of blood count and the values after one month and two months treatments are given in tables I to IV.

Treatment with Baraka Black Seed oil for one month and two month to the anemic patients show the gradual increase of hemoglobin percentage and the count of red blood cells. (See table 1) In all the cases (except one) the M.C.V value was between 96 µm3 and 85 µm3. This indicates that most of them were in normocytic condition. After 2 months treatment the M.C.V increased to the average value of 109.8, which indicate the lack of iron. If the patients were treated also with the iron, these results may have been changed. The MCHC was always below normal level and not changed significantly. So before and after the treatment red cells showed the normochromic stage. After one-month treatment Hb concentration increased 5.65 per cent of the initial level. In the second month it increased by 4.17%. Total average increase was about, 10%. After two month of treatment. This difference is due to the treatment even at the level of p < 0.001. Count of red blood cells increased by 9% after the treatment of two month. It is due to the treatment even at the level of p <0.05.

Baraka Black Seed oil has a favorable effect on heamopoesis. It increases the Hb concentration and R. B. C count. It may be a good ingredient in the treatment for anemia and disorders in heamopoesis.