Phytotherapy with Hordeum Vulgare: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Infants with Jaundice

Introduction: Jaundice is one of the most common causes of admission to hospital in newborns which is often associated with several complications.

Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of H. vulgare in reducing jaundice.

Materials and methods: In this double-blind, randomized controlled trials 70 term infants hospitalized due to jaundice in 2014 were enrolled. Control group was treated with full-time phototherapy alone using LED except when the infants were breastfed and case group with phototherapy, as per the protocol in the control group, along with and topical H. vulgare seed flour three times a day. Data were analysed using and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and paired t-test in SPSS version 16.0.

Results: There was a significant difference in mean indirect bilirubin level between the two groups p<0.05, such that the mean indirect bilirubin level was higher in the control group. Furthermore, no significant difference was seen in direct bilirubin level between the two groups at discharge p>0.05.

Conclusion: H. vulgare flour can cause decrease in indirect bilirubin. Because the rate of decrease in indirect bilirubin can be effective in preventing severe complications due to bilirubinemia, H. vulgare can be used as a complementary therapy to treat jaundice.