Evaluating the therapeutic efficacy, tolerability, and safety of an aqueous extract of Costus speciosus rhizome in acute pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis: A pilot study

Authors

• Zainab A. Bakhsh, From the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Bakhsh, Al-Khatib, Al-Muhayawi), Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Biological Sciences (ElAssouli), King Fahd Medical Research Center, and the Department of Hematology (Elfiky, Mourad), Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Research Chair for Prophetic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Talal A. Al-Khatib, From the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Bakhsh, Al-Khatib, Al-Muhayawi), Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Biological Sciences (ElAssouli), King Fahd Medical Research Center, and the Department of Hematology (Elfiky, Mourad), Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Research Chair for Prophetic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Saad M. Al-Muhayawi, From the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Bakhsh, Al-Khatib, Al-Muhayawi), Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Biological Sciences (ElAssouli), King Fahd Medical Research Center, and the Department of Hematology (Elfiky, Mourad), Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Research Chair for Prophetic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Sufian M. ElAssouli, From the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Bakhsh, Al-Khatib, Al-Muhayawi), Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Biological Sciences (ElAssouli), King Fahd Medical Research Center, and the Department of Hematology (Elfiky, Mourad), Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Research Chair for Prophetic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Iman A. Elfiky, From the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Bakhsh, Al-Khatib, Al-Muhayawi), Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Biological Sciences (ElAssouli), King Fahd Medical Research Center, and the Department of Hematology (Elfiky, Mourad), Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Research Chair for Prophetic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Samiha A. Mourad, From the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Bakhsh, Al-Khatib, Al-Muhayawi), Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Biological Sciences (ElAssouli), King Fahd Medical Research Center, and the Department of Hematology (Elfiky, Mourad), Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Research Chair for Prophetic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of an aqueous extract of Costus speciosus ( C. speciosus ) rhizome in pediatric and adult patients suffering from acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis as an alternative to antibiotics use. Methods: This pilot cohort trial was conducted at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia between May and December 2014, among 15 patients with acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis who were administered nasal drops of aqueous extract of C. speciosus rhizome at a dose of 15-30 drops every 8 hours for 3 days. The primary outcome measure was the clinical improvement and remission rate within the first 5 days. Results: The administration of C. speciosus resulted in an improvement in acute symptoms in 60% of the patients treated within the first 24 hours, and remission rate of 93% by day 5, without any recorded adverse effects. Conclusion: This study revealed a significant efficacy of the aqueous extract of C. speciosus rhizome in acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis.

Article Type

Brief Report

First Page

997

Last Page

1000

Recommended Citation

Bakhsh, Zainab A.; Al-Khatib, Talal A.; Al-Muhayawi, Saad M.; ElAssouli, Sufian M.; Elfiky, Iman A.; and Mourad, Samiha A. (2015) "Evaluating the therapeutic efficacy, tolerability, and safety of an aqueous extract of Costus speciosus rhizome in acute pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis: A pilot study," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 36: Iss. 8, Article 17.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2015.8.11377