The in vivo effect of tiger nut/black seed oil on sickle cell patients

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An investigation into cellular oxidative stress and ROS in sickle cell anaemia patients and its reversal with a range of natural and novel antioxidants.

• IRAS ID

  229870

• Contact name

  Yvonne Elliott

• Sponsor organisation

  Coventry University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 2 months, 27 days

• Research summary

  How effective are tiger nut oil and black seed oil as antioxidant sickle cell treatments, when consumed regularly by sickle cell patients?
  
  Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a genetically inherited red blood cell disorder, whereby normal spherical erythrocytes (red blood cells) become sickle shaped, due to a genetic mutation in the haemoglobin-beta gene. The sickle blood cells are also more adhesive to blood vessel endothelium. This leads to disrupted blood flow and reduced oxygen transport; symptomatically this results in vaso-occlusive crises, episodes of joint pain in varying severity and frequency. A contributing factor to erythrocyte sickling is increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly free radicals, in combination with decreased natural antioxidant capacity in SCA subjects. Antioxidants are required to scavenge excessive free radicals as they have the potential to cause cellular damage.

  Tiger nut oil (Cyperus esculentus) and black seed oil (Nigella sativa) have been anecdotally passed down through generations of SCA families living in regions of Nigeria. This research will focus on the antioxidant ability of these oils in relation to their efficacy as potential SCA treatments/dietary supplements, when tested on SCA patients from Coventry hospital. Consenting participants will be required to complete questionnaires and have blood samples taken at specific time points during the study, as well as consuming either tiger nut oil or black seed oil (subjects will be randomly assigned) on a daily basis for a set period of time (~3 months).

  A benefit of novel natural SCA treatments is the reduced dependence on prescribed drugs such as hydroxyurea, which carry risks of side effects including iron overload. It is also possible that antioxidant supplements will reduce the frequency of required blood transfusions, which are invasive and time consuming. Overall, these treatments aim to improve quality of life for SCA patients.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/WM/0450

• Date of REC Opinion

  27 Dec 2017

• REC opinion

  Unfavourable Opinion