Oral aqueous Nigella sativa seed extract as adjunctive therapy,
does it really help with Reduced seizure frequency in pediatric refractory epilepsy?
research showsGrade C with 54 points. In a crossover trial with 23 enrolled and 20 completers, seizures averaged 4.21/day with extract and 6.14 with placebo (overall P<.001), but period-specific contrasts, carryover, and exact confidence intervals were unverified.
ads claimStopping antiseizure medication or achieving durable remission was not tested.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- This verdict applies only to the exact plant part, formulation, route, dose, population, endpoint, and comparator shown above.
- Seed powder, fixed oil, aqueous extract, ethanolic topical preparation, purified thymoquinone, and combinations are not interchangeable.
- Composition varies by product and extraction method. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children, those with liver or kidney disease, and anyone using glucose-, blood-pressure-, anticoagulant-, antiseizure-, or immune-modifying medicines should seek clinical advice. Small trials cannot exclude rare or long-term harms.
Chamgap Semantic Classification Code
Permanent code issued
S.nigella-sativa.oral.seizure-frequency.reduce.addonSupplements and nutraceuticals > Nigella sativa > Oral > Seizure frequency > Reduction claim > Add-on to common antiseizure therapy
Bound to the pediatric aqueous seed-extract crossover and separated from purified thymoquinone and oil. The code identifies the intervention and claim; it never contains the evidence grade, score, or safety result.
Exact Claim Classification
These independent facets prevent evidence from different forms, routes, populations, effects, and comparators from being mixed.
| Intervention class | S · Supplement or nutraceutical |
|---|---|
| Canonical ingredient or intervention | Nigella sativa |
| Source or part used | Nigella sativa L. seed |
| Formulation or processing | Soxhlet aqueous seed extract; not purified thymoquinone |
| Route | Oral |
| Dose | 40 mg/kg every eight hours |
| Duration | Four weeks per period with a two-week washout |
| Population | Children with refractory epilepsy continuing antiseizure medication |
| Effect or condition | Reduced seizure frequency |
| Primary endpoint | Parent-recorded seizures per day |
| Comparator | Crossover placebo added to common antiseizure treatment |
| Duplicate-detection key | nigella-sativa|aqueous-seed-extract|oral|children-refractory-epilepsy-on-medication|seizure-frequency-reduction|4-week-crossover |
What the research actually shows
An aqueous whole-seed extract was added to antiseizure medication; purified thymoquinone was not tested.
Why this is classified as C (54)
A clinical seizure endpoint and positive signal are strengths, but one 20-completer study, unclear crossover analysis, and short duration yield C with 54 points.
Counterpoint. Uncertainty does not prove no effect, but a signal from one formulation cannot validate another formulation or claim.
Rejudgment record. Independent Codex cross-check — One page, one route, one population, one claim, one principal comparator
| Endpoint | H | Hard endpoint - actual events such as death |
| Replication | R1 | Single confirmatory trial |
| Independence | I1 | Mixed funding sources |
| Effect size | E+ | Meets the clinically important threshold |
| Precision | C0 | The confidence interval leaves room for benefit |
The scoring table and the verdict agree (C).
Cross-check — AI research and Codex final gate
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of Nigella sativa L. (black cumin seed) on intractable pediatric seizures | The cited controlled design and its allocation or masking limitations were independently checked. | 20 | Funding, product support, and employee authorship were assessed separately; unverified items were not counted as strengths. | The principal endpoint is defined in the exact facets; secondary outcomes remain separate. | The verified quantitative result is reported in the English reader answer and rationale without inventing missing confidence intervals. | Tiny short crossover; carryover unclear |
Receipt — 1 References
All 1 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-09-08).
Final verification and publication gate: Codex · Verification cutoff: 2026-09-08 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Aqueous Nigella Seed Extract for Pediatric Refractory Epilepsy—A Short Crossover Signal in 20 Completers — Evidence Grade C·54. 1 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/cognition/oral-aqueous-nigella-seed-extract-adjunct-pediatric-refractory-seizures/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.