Critical appraisal of reporting, statistical methodology, and interpretation in a preclinical intranasal curcumin model of allergic rhinitis

Abstract

This letter highlights key reporting and methodological issues in Demir et al.’s preclinical study assessing intranasal curcumin in an ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis rat model. We note an inconsistency in the reported number of experimental groups, potential misuse of parametric testing for ordinal histopathology scores, and overinterpretation of non-significant IgE comparisons as “comparable efficacy.” We also identify a citation mismatch regarding human clinical evidence and emphasize the need for clearer discussion of local tolerability signals, including goblet cell changes.