Effect of thymoquinone on the lung pathology and cytokine levels of ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs

Abstract

Different pharmacological effects from Nigella sativa have been demonstrated in guinea pig tracheal chains in previous studies. In the present study, the prophylactic effects of thymoquinone on lung pathology as well as blood IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in sensitized guinea pigs were examined. Three groups of guinea pigs sensitized to ovalbumin were given drinking water alone (group S) or drinking water containing low (LTQ) or high (HTQ) concentrations of thymoquinone (groups S + LTQ and S + HTQ). The lung pathology as well as blood IL-4 and IFN-γ levels of the sensitized and the control guinea pigs were evaluated in three sensitized and one control group (n = 8, for all groups). The lungs of the S group showed significant pathological changes (p < 0.001). Blood IL-4 and IFN-γ levels were increased in the sensitized animals compared to those of controls (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Treatment of the S animals with thymoquinone significantly improved their pathological changes to the lung and decreased their IL-4 levels (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) but increased their IFN-γ levels (p < 0.001). These results showed a preventive effect of thymoquinone on lung inflammation in sensitized guinea pigs.

Pathological Study on the Role of Thymoquinone in Experimentally Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats

“…TQ is a natural product with main constituents of the volatile oil from Nigella sativa seeds which exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities [18]. TQ had been proved to be effective in the treatment of many respiratory manifestations [9,15,[19][20][21][22][23]. El Gazzar et al [15] suggested that TQ attenuates the inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated mast cells by modulating nuclear transactivation of NF-κB and TNFα production.…”

Nigella Sativa’nın Biyoaktif Komponenti Olan Timokinon Ovalbuminle Uyarılmış Ginedomuzlarında Adenozin A2 Reseptörlerini Etkileyebilir

“…Finally, the specimens were stained by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and evaluated under a light microscope. The pathological changes in the lungs of all groups included vascular and airways smooth muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia, the presence of mucosal plug, respiratory epithelial denudation, inflammatory infiltration and emphysema [5,21] . The pathological changes were scored according to previous studies as follows: 0: no pathologic changes, 1: patchy changes, 2: local changes, 3: scattered changes and 4: severe changes.…”

“…a-Kontrol normal akciğer dokusu (C, 10x10), b-uyarılmış grup (S, 10x40), perivasküler yangısal infiltrasyon, c-timokinon verilmiş ve uyarılmış grup (S+TQ, 10x40), havayollarında düz kas hiperplazisi ve orta şiddette yangısal infiltrasyon, d-A2A antagonisti uygulanmış ve uyarılmış grup (S+Anta A2A,10x10), amfizem ve atelektazi, e-A2B antagonisti uygulanmış ve uyarılmış grup (S+Anta A2B,10x10), respiratorik epitel dökülmesi, f-A2A antagonisti ile birlikte timokinon uygulanmış ve uyarılmış grup (S+TQ+Anta A2A, 10x40), vasküler ve havayolu düz kas hiperplazi ve hipertrofisi ve g-A2B antagonisti ile birlikte timokinon uygulanmış ve uyarılmış grup (S+TQ+Anta A2B, 10x100), yangısal infiltrasyon and endogenous factors involved in inflammation [29] . On the other hand, thymoquinone as an exogenous factor could change blood cytokine secretion (IL-4 & INF-γ) in the process of asthma; these changes were in accordance with previous studies [5,21] . So thymoquinone probably influences the secretion of cytokines of different types of lymphocytes (Th 2 /Th 1 ) and changes the activity of A 2A receptors on the surface of lymphocytes and extracellular adenosine levels.…”

“…Th 2 cells are the regulators of pre-inflammatory responses and Th 1 cells directly or indirectly inhibit Th 2 cells [3,4] . Therefore, the increased level of IL-4 (cell markers of Th 2 ) and decreased level of IFN-γ (cell markers of Th 1 ) can be seen in this disease [5,6] .…”

“…Many studies showed that Nigella sativa had anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects [17][18][19][20] . Moreover, our previous studies demonstrated that the extract of Nigella sativa and its main constituent, thymoquinone, had preventive effects on asthma and precluded its inflammatory and pathological changes [5,6,21,22] .…”