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Background:Nigella sativa Linn. is well known seed in the Middle East, Asia, and the Far East as a natural remedy for many ailments and as a flavoring agent proclaimed medicinal usage dating back to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. An authentic saying of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) about black seed is also quoted in Al-Bukhari.Objective:This study was carried out to evaluate the antidepressant effect and isolate the potential antidepressant constituents of the polar extract of N. sativa seeds.Materials and Methods:The antidepressant effect was evaluated through the immobility duration in tail suspension and forced swim tests (FSTs). Albino mice were orally treated with N. sativa polar extract and its RP-18 column chromatography fractions (50 and 100 mg/kg,).Results:The polar extract and two of its sub-fractions were significantly able to decrease the immobility time of mice when subjected to both tail suspension and FSTs, the effects are comparable to standard drug (Sertraline, 5 mg/kg). However, these treatments did not affect the number of crossings and rearing in the open field test. Phytochemical investigation of the two active fractions led to the isolation of quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside 1, quercetin-7-O-β-D-gluco- pyranoside 2, tauroside E 3, and sapindoside B as the potential antidepressant constituents.SUMMARY Phytochemical and biological evaluation the antidepressant constituents in Nigella sativa using the tail suspension and forced swim methods afforded the isolation and identification of quercetin-3-O-α-L rhamnopyranoside, quercetin-7-O-β-D gluco pyranoside, tauroside E, and sapindoside B as the potential antidepressant constituents in the polar extract of N. sativa. The isolated compounds were identified through extensive NMR analysis (1D, 2D, ESI MS). Abbreviations used: TST: Tail suspension test, FST: Forced swim test, OFT: An Open field test

The antiepileptic potential of thymoquinone (TQ) was studied in mice by using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock seizure (MES)-induced convulsion models. In this investigation, the combined treatment of TQ and sodium valproate (SVP) was also studied. The aim of this part was to minimize SVPinduced hepatotoxic implications, by reducing its antiepileptic dose. TQ in both PTZ-and MES-models increased SVP potency. The experiments dealing with the effects of TQ on the ED 50 of SVP revealed that TQ reduced the ED 50 of SVP in both the models. However, this potentiation of SVP antiepileptic response was relatively more significant in PTZ model at both 50 and 100 mg/kg doses of TQ. Although very well tolerated and effective, SVP is well known for its hapatotoxic implications. In the experiment dealing with subacute treatment, SVP (1300-1500mg/kg/day in drinking water) for 21 days, produced hepatotoxicity in mice, characterized by elevated serum ALT and AST, reduced levels of non protein sulfhydryls and increase in lipid peroxidation in hepatic cells. Hepato-protection was successfully achieved when TQ (5-5.5mg/kg/day) was combined with SVP in drinking water for the same duration. The protective activity of TQ was evident by averting any serum ALT rise seen in SVP treatment. Though there is no prevention to the rise in lipid peroxidation in hepatic tissue but the same time a significant recovery in glutathione was evident by TQ joint treatment.However, a combination of TQ and low dose of SVP may be useful strategy to minimize adverse reactions of SVP. From the results of the present study that disclosed a protective role of TQ against SVP toxic damage to the liver, it could be harmful effects. It also protected against the liver enzyme induction seen in the case of SVP alone. KeywordsThymoquinone, valproate, potentiation, maximal electroshock convulsions, hepatoprotection.Abbreviations: maximal electroshock seizure = MES; pentylenetetrazole = PTZ; thymoquinone = TQ; sodium valproate = SVP; malondialdehyde = MDA; nonprotein sulfhydryl groups = NPSH; glutathione = G-SH.

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