Evidence mapPaperPMID 40465634Full record

Trial reportPloS one2025

The effect of Nigella Sativa emulgel on episiotomy wound healing and pain intensity in primiparous women: A triple-blind randomized controlled trial.

Mahsa Maghalian, Afsaneh Alizadeh, Fatemeh Raphi, Ziba Islambulchilar, Laleh Khodaie, Mahsan Nabighadim, Simin Taghavi, Mojgan Mirghafourvand

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mahsa MaghalianStudent Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Afsaneh AlizadehDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Fatemeh RaphiMaster of Midwifery, Clinical Research Development Unit, Taleghani Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Ziba IslambulchilarDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Laleh KhodaieDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mahsan NabighadimMedicine student, Medical School, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
Simin TaghaviObstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mojgan MirghafourvandSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8360-4309

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpisiotomy, a common surgical procedure during childbirth, often leads to complications such as pain, infection, and delayed healing. Nigella sativa has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties in prior studies and have received United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for food use, indicating their safety. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Nigella sativa emulgel on episiotomy wound healing and pain intensity in primiparous women.

methodsA triple-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted at Taleghani Hospital, Tabriz, Iran (May 2023-April 2024). Seventy-four primiparous women with mediolateral episiotomy were randomized to receive either Nigella sativa emulgel or placebo, applied topically three times daily for 7 days post-discharge. Wound healing was assessed using the REEDA scale (Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation; primary outcome), and pain intensity was measured via visual analog scale (VAS; secondary outcome). Outcomes were evaluated at discharge (baseline) and 10 ± 1 days postpartum. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANCOVA (adjusted for baseline scores), and Mann-Whitney U tests for non-normal distributions (SPSS v26).

resultsAt 10 ± 1 days postpartum, the Nigella sativa group showed significantly better wound healing (REEDA score: MD -0.79, 95% CI -1.20 to -0.39; p = 0.001) and lower pain scores (VAS: MD -0.74, 95% CI -1.3 to -0.11; p = 0.021) compared to placebo. Subscale analysis revealed improvements in redness (p = 0.037), edema (p = 0.041), and ecchymosis (p = 0.043). No adverse effects were reported, and satisfaction was higher in the Nigella sativa group (86.5% vs. 56.7%; p = 0.046).

conclusionsTopical Nigella sativa emulgel significantly improved episiotomy wound healing and reduced pain intensity, with high patient satisfaction. These findings support its potential as a natural therapeutic option, though larger multi-center trials are needed for broader validation.

trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20120718010324N68.

Indexed as

EpisiotomyNigella sativaPlant ExtractsPostoperative PainWound HealingAdultFemaleHumansIranPain MeasurementParityPregnancyTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultPlant Extracts

Identifiers

PMID40465634
PMCPMC12136343

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.