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RecruitingNCT07525505Updated Apr 21, 2026

Nigella Sativa Oil for Eczematous Otitis Externa

An interventional study of Mometasone Furoate (MF) and Nigella sativa oil in Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis and Otitis Externa, sponsored by Bezmialem Vakif University. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-21.

Sponsored by Bezmialem Vakif University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jun 2026, 5 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Jan 2026; still recruiting 9 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
85
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Eczematous otitis externa is a common inflammatory condition of the external auditory canal characterized by itching, discomfort, discharge, and pain. Topical corticosteroids are widely used for treatment; however, alternative therapies with fewer side effects are of increasing interest.

This study aims to compare the efficacy of Nigella sativa (black seed) oil and mometasone furoate ear drops in the treatment of eczematous otitis externa. Nigella sativa is a natural product with known anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

In this randomized, controlled clinical trial, adult patients with eczematous otitis externa will be assigned to receive either Nigella sativa oil or mometasone furoate ear drops for 10 days. Clinical symptoms and inflammatory findings will be evaluated at baseline and after treatment.

The objective of this study is to determine whether Nigella sativa oil is an effective and safe alternative to topical corticosteroid therapy.

Read the detailed description

Eczematous otitis externa is a chronic inflammatory condition of the external auditory canal characterized by pruritus, erythema, scaling, and discomfort. Although topical corticosteroids are commonly used as first-line therapy, their prolonged use may be associated with adverse effects, prompting interest in alternative treatment options.

Nigella sativa oil, a natural product with documented anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, may represent a potential therapeutic alternative in inflammatory ear conditions.

This study will be conducted as a prospective, randomized, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial. Adult patients with clinically diagnosed eczematous otitis externa will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Nigella sativa oil or mometasone furoate 0.1% ear drops, administered twice daily for 10 days.

Clinical assessments will be performed at baseline and at the end of treatment. Patient-reported symptoms, including itching, discomfort, otorrhea, and pain, will be evaluated using a numeric rating scale. Objective inflammatory findings, including hyperemia and squamation of the external auditory canal and external ear, will be assessed using standardized photographic documentation by a blinded evaluator.

The primary outcome will be the change in objective inflammatory findings from baseline to the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes will include changes in patient-reported symptom scores.

The results of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of Nigella sativa oil as a potential alternative to topical corticosteroid therapy in the management of eczematous otitis externa.

02

Conditions studied

  • Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis
  • Otitis Externa

Keywords

  • Eczematous Otitis Externa
  • External Ear Dermatitis
  • Nigella sativa oil
03

In context

Eczema

503 studies on the registry are indexed under Eczema; 89 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 85 is close to the median of 91 across 401 interventional studies indexed under Eczema.

Browse Eczema studies →

Lead sponsor

Bezmialem Vakif University is the lead sponsor of 354 studies on the registry; 59 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult patients aged 18 years and older
  • Clinical diagnosis of eczematous otitis externa confirmed by otoscopic examination
  • Presence of at least one symptom related to the affected ear (itching, discomfort, otorrhea, or pain)
  • Willingness to participate and ability to provide written

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known or allergic reaction to Nigella sativa oil or mometasone furoate
  • Use of topical or systemic or other ear medications within a defined period prior to enrollment
  • Presence of acute otitis externa of infectious origin requiring antibiotic treatment
  • History of ear surgery or structural abnormalities of the external auditory canal
  • Severe systemic disease or condition that may interfere with study participation
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
85 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    nigella sativa

    Participants in this group will receive Nigella sativa oil ear drops, administered as two drops into the affected ear twice daily for 10 days.

    Drug: Nigella sativa oil

  • Active comparator
    mometasone furoate

    Participants in this group will receive mometasone furoate 0.1% ear drops, administered as two drops into the affected ear twice daily for 10 days.

    Drug: Mometasone Furoate (MF)

Interventions

  • Topical corticosteroid solution administered as ear drops (2 drops twice daily for 10 days).

  • A fixed oil obtained from Nigella sativa seeds, administered as ear drops (2 drops twice daily for 10 days).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in objective inflammatory findings of the external ear from baseline to Day 10

    Objective inflammatory findings, including external auditory canal hyperemia, edema, and desquamation, will be assessed using a standardized clinical inflammation scoring system (range: 0-3 for each parameter; total score range: 0-9). Higher scores indicate more severe inflammation. Changes in total score from baseline to Day 10 will be analyzed.

    Time frame: Baseline to Day 10

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in itching score from baseline to Day 10

    Itching severity will be assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (0-10). Changes from baseline to Day 10 will be evaluated.

    Time frame: Baseline to Day 10

  2. Change in pain score from baseline to Day 10

    Pain severity will be assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (0-10). Changes from baseline to Day 10 will be evaluated.

    Time frame: Baseline to Day 10

  3. Change in discomfort score from baseline to Day 10

    Discomfort will be assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (0-10). Changes from baseline to Day 10 will be evaluated.

    Time frame: Baseline to Day 10

  4. Change in otorrhea score from baseline to Day 10

    Otorrhea severity will be assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (0-10). Changes from baseline to Day 10 will be evaluated.

    Time frame: Baseline to Day 10

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided — It is currently undecided whether individual participant data (IPD) will be shared. Data sharing plans may be determined after study completion in accordance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 21, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07525505
Responsible party
Nazan Degirmenci (Assoc. Prof., Bezmialem Vakif University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 13, 2026
Start date
Jan 12, 2026
Primary completion
Jun 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 21, 2026

Study contacts

Nazan Degirmenci, MD,Assoc. Prof.
Contact
nzndegirmenci@hotmail.com
+90(212) 523 22 88
muhammed said ekinci, resident MD
Contact
muhammed.ekinci@bezmialem.edu.tr
+90(212) 523 22 88

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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