Acute Effect of Inhalant Artemisia Persica Boiss on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Patients Aged 6-18 Years Old: A Randomized Control Trial

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways which is highly prevalent in children. Treatment of the disease is based on the relief of obstruction and inflammation of the airways. Artemisia persica Boiss. Has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of A. persica on pulmonary function in patients with asthma aged 6-18 years.

In this double-blind clinical trial, 118 asthmatic patients in the age range of 18-6 years, referred to the Spirometry Unit of Imam Ali Clinic, in Shahrekord, southwest of Iran, were randomly divided into control and intervention groups. Patients in the two groups were exposed to a placebo (distilled water) and 10 ml of inhalant A. persica 1.5% formulation for 15 minutes, respectively. Spirometry was performed before and 20 minutes after the completion of inhalation and the values were recorded. Data was analyzed by SPSS 20.

Before the intervention, spirometric indices (including FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF25, PEF50, PEF75, and PEF2575) were not significantly different between the control and case groups. After the intervention, these indices were not significantly different between the two groups. In the group exposed to A. persica inhalation, after the intervention, spirometric indices including FEV1/FVC, PEF50, PEF75, and PEF2575 significantly decreased (P<0.05), while FEV1, FVC, and PEF25 indices did not change significantly after the intervention.
In the control group, FEV1/FVC, FVC, PEF25, PEF50, PEF50, PEF75 and PEF2575 significantly decreased (P<0.05) after the intervention, but FEV1 did not change significantly.

Acute inhalation of A. persica and placebo caused no improvement in spirometric indices in asthmatic patients.