Immunostimulatory potential of Nigella sativa seeds extract on chicken macrophage function

Abstract

In present study, the effect of Nigella sativa seeds extract on the chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was investigated. The chicken PBMCs were stimulated with two different doses (125?g/ml; 250?g/ml) of Nigella sativa seeds extract and the cells were harvested at different time points till 48h post-stimulation for analysis of iNOS gene expression by quantitative PCR and nitric oxide (NO) estimation at 24 and 48h post-stimulation. High dose (250?g/ml) of Nigella sativa seed extract showed remarkable induction of iNOS transcripts expression and NO production at 48h post-stimulation, which were 12.8040±1.03347 folds and 5.7089±.64535µM respectively. The results indicated the immunostimulatory potential of the Nigella sativa seed extract on the chicken PBMCs.