Gastroprotective effects of montelukast andNigella sativaoil against corticosteroid-induced gastric damage: they are much more than antiasthmatic drugs

Abstract

Corticosteroids are used to treat a variety of diseases like bronchial asthma. However, long-term corticosteroids have a gastric ulcerogenic potential. Montelukast (MTK) and Nigella sativa oil (NSO) are used in treatment of bronchial asthma. Previous studies showed that MTK and NSO had gastroprotective effects in other models of gastric ulcer. The present study assesses synergistic gastroprotective effects of both drugs in dexamethasone (DXM)-induced gastric damage. Fifty male rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control (I), DXM group (II), MTK + DXM group (III), NSO + DXM group (IV), MTK + NSO + DXM group (V). After 7 days, stomachs were removed for biochemical analysis and histological examinations. Significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells, with significant decreases in mucus secretion were detected in DXM-treated group compared with group I. Meanwhile, significant decreases of MDA level, MPO activity, and PCNA positive cells and significant increases in mucus secretion were detected in treated groups compared with group II. SOD activity significantly decreased in group V compared with group II. We could conclude that administration of either MTK or NSO or both with DXM counteracts DXM-induced gastric lesions.

Montelukast Efficiency in Improving the Deleterious Gastrointestinal Effects of Dexamethasone in Rats

“…They also proposed that montelukast has an anti-inflammatory action as demonstrated by significant decrease in MPO activity of gastric tissue caused by dexamethasone treatment as well as by the improved histopathological picture of the stomach in the form of decreased edema and mononuclear cells. In contrast to the present work where histopathological examination of the stomach showed loss of mucin, the authors reported that montelukast treatment caused increased mucus production in the stomach by unknown mechanisms [22] .…”

Therapeutic Effects of Nigella Sativa and Cannabis Sativa Seeds On Multiple Sclerosis

“…Nigella sativa (N. Sativa) annual herb of the Ranunculaceae family, also known as the Black seed with a great historical and religious background, is mostly cultivated in Southwest Asia, southern Eu-rope, and North Africa [7]. Studies have reported that black seed contains a bioactive component called thymo quinone (TQ) that have numerous benefits like immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory [8], hepato protective [9], diuretic [10], antihypertensive [11], hypoglycemic [12], hypo lipid emic [13], anti-microbial [14], and gastro protective [15] effects; thus it is used to treat various diseases like cancers, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases [5]. Cannabis or hemp seed is originated from China and has been mostly used to produce textile and animal food.…”