Effect of rosemary on lung functions and immunoglobulin E [igE] in adult asthmatic patients

ABSTRACT

Asthma is a clinical syndrome characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway responsiveness] and expiratory airflow limitation. Nocturnal symptoms and decreases in lung .functions are common aspects of the asthma clinical syndrome. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of rosemary supplementation on lung function in adult asthmatic patients. A sample of twenty patients with asthma [10 Men and 10 Women] aged 43.7+/- 1.0 years were chosen from outpatient clinics of Tanta University Hospital, Egypt. All patients were diagnosed according to lung functions, blood variables, and clinical signs. The patients were · randomly divided into two equal groups; control group [CG] who received medical treatment only; Rosemary group [RG] who received medical treatment plus two cups of rosemary tea daily. The supplementation continued for three consecutive months. Lung functions [forced vital capacity [FVC], FEVI, maximum voluntary ventilation [MVV], and peak expiratory flow rate [FEFR], were measured and CBC was also determined at baseline and after three months of supplementation. The results revealed that the majority of subjects were of intermediate socio-economic status [70%], the percentage of forced expiratory volume 1 second [FEV 1 %] improved significantly among RG [by 3.4% at P<0.001], [MVV] increased significantly [P<0.001] for RG more than CG. RBCs improved significantly [P<0.01] for both groups. Leucocytes values decreased significantly [by 11.7% at P<0.001] after the supplementation for RG. Finally, the [IgE] decreased significantly [by 9% at P < 0.05] in CG and also decreased significantly [by 36% at P < 0.001] in RG. In conclusion: Data suggests that administration of rosemary at a safe dose [2 cups rosemary tea daily] was effective in improving the health and lung functions of adult asthmatic patients