Nigella sativa: A Dietary Supplement as an Immune-Modulator on the Basis of Bioactive Components

Abstract

Nutrients can be considered as functional foods, which exert physiological benefits on immune system. The seeds of Nigella sativa, which have many active constituents, are mainly used for medicine, food spice, and nutritional supplements in Egypt. Much attention has been paid to N. sativa seeds for their anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune properties. However, their active constituents and mechanisms underlying functions from N. sativa seeds is unclear. Thus, the bioactive constituents with immune regulation in N. sativa seeds were systematically studied. A new compound (3-methoxythymol-6-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside 1) and 11 known compounds (2–12) were separated from the N. sativa seeds by chromatographic methods. Their structures were then elucidated by spectroscopic analysis of MS, UV, IR, 1H-, and 13C-NMR. Furthermore, immunomodulatory effects of those compounds in RAW 264.7 cells were evaluated by phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine release, related mRNA transcription, and key proteins expression in vitro. Monosaccharide derivatives, Ethyl-α-D-furaarabinose (5), and Ethyl-β-D-fructofuranoside (8) were shown to played bidirectional regulatory roles in immunity and anti-inflammation through the regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. The results showed the active compounds and mechanisms of immune regulation in N. sativa, thus indicating that N. sativa seeds could be used as dietary supplements in immunomodulation.

Effect of Nigella sativa L. Seed on the Kidney of Monosodium Glutamate Challenged Rats

“…The attenuation of lymphoid cell infiltration in the renal medulla of the MSG + NSS group reflects the ability of NSS as a potent immunemodulator ( Niu et al, 2021 ) and its significant role in enhancing of cellular immunity ( Ebaid et al, 2011 ). It decreases the migration of these cells from the peripheral blood because it has an anti-inflammatory action ( Houghton et al, 1995 ) by suppressing the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 ( Jaswal, et al, 2022 ) and decreasing the transcription level of cyclooxygenase-2 ( Al Wafai, 2013 ).…”

The Immunomodulatory Effects of Active Ingredients From Nigella sativa in RAW264.7 Cells Through NF-κB/MAPK Signaling Pathways

“…The cells after treatment for 24 h using the above experimental procedure, and Western Blot experiment was conducted according to the reference ( 31 ). Total protein was extracted using the proper volume of a weak radioimmune precipitation assay (RIPA) lysis buffer based on the density of the cultivated cells (about 100 μL per well).…”

“…Our ongoing research ( 28 – 31 ), four compounds, ( Figure 1 ) Ethyl-α-D-galactopyranoside (EG), Methyl-α-D-glucoside (MG), 3 -O -[β- D -xylopyranose-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnose-(1 → 2)-α- L -arabinose]-28- O -[α- L -rhamnose-(1 → 4)-β- D -glucopyranose-L-(1 → 6)-β- D -glucopyranose]-hederagenin (HXRARG) and 3- O -[β- D -xylopyranose-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnose-(1 → 2)-α- L -arabinose]-hederagenin (HXRA), were isolated and identified and they were found to stimulate NO production in RAW264.7 cells. It is speculated that EG, MG, HXRA and HXRARG have immunomodulatory effects.…”

Diversified Polyketides With Anti-inflammatory Activities From Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Daldinia eschscholtzii KBJYZ-1

“…The cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay as described previously (Niu et al, 2021 ). Briefly, RAW264.7 cells (5 × 10 4 cells/well) with logarithmic growth were inoculated in 96-well plates for 12 h at 37°C with 5% CO 2 .…”

“…The spent cell culture medium was discarded when the cell fusion reached about 70–80%. Then, cells were stimulated with compounds (25, 12.5, and 6.25 μM), and incubated for 24 h. Western blot was carried out and the assay was done as described previously (Niu et al, 2021 ). Blots were visualized using enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) detection kits and analyzed using the Image J software.…”