Gholamreza Panahandeh - Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei - Professor of Pharmacology Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Zahra Lorigooini - Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Soleyman Kheiri - Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Mahdieh Mahmoudian - MD, Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

Background: 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 ۶-۱۸ years. Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, ۱۱۸ asthmatic patients in the age range of ۱۸-۶ 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 ۱۰ ml of inhalant A. persica ۱.۵% formulation for ۱۵ minutes, respectively. Spirometry was performed before and ۲۰ minutes after the completion of inhalation and the values were recorded. Data was analyzed by SPSS ۲۰. Results: Before the intervention, spirometric indices (including FEV۱, FVC, FEV۱/FVC, PEF۲۵, PEF۵۰, PEF۷۵, and PEF۲۵۷۵) 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 FEV۱/FVC, PEF۵۰, PEF۷۵, and PEF۲۵۷۵ significantly decreased (P<۰.۰۵), while FEV۱, FVC, and PEF۲۵ indices did not change significantly after the intervention. In the control group, FEV۱/FVC, FVC, PEF۲۵, PEF۵۰, PEF۵۰, PEF۷۵ and PEF۲۵۷۵ significantly decreased (P<۰.۰۵) after the intervention, but FEV۱ did not change significantly. Conclusion: Acute inhalation of A. persica and placebo caused no improvement in spirometric indices in asthmatic patients.

Asthma,,, ,،Artemisia Persica Boiss,,, ,،Spirometry