Nigella Sativa’s Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Effects in Experimental Inflammation

Abstract

Nigella sativa (NS) has been used for centuries in various inflammatory conditions because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) in two models of acute (carrageenan-induced) and sub-acute inflammation (complete Freund’s adjuvant induced) in rats. Materials and Methods: NSO was administered orally 1, 2 and 4 mL/kg in the acute phase. For subacute phase, NSO was administered 4 mL/kg, 7 days before or after inflammation induction, or in association with diclofenac 5 mg/kg. Results: The gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis showed that NSO is an important source of bioactive compounds, especially p-cymene and thymoquinone. In the acute phase, 1.5 h after administration, NSO (2 and 4 mL/kg) determined an anti-inflammatory effect comparable with that of diclofenac. In the sub-acute administration, NSO had no anti-inflammatory effect. The analgesic effect of NSO was observed only in the sub-acute inflammation in the analgesy-meter test. NSO as treatment proved its antioxidant effect through the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and increases in hydrogen donor capacity (DH) compared to the control group, but the effect was not as intense as that of diclofenac. Conclusion: The present study has proven inconstant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidative properties of NSO.

Recent Findings on Thymoquinone and Its Applications as a Nanocarrier for the Treatment of Cancer and Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Moreover, the immunomodulatory effects of TQ (10 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneally) are almost similar to the therapeutic effects of MTX (0.5 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneally) as investigated in an FCA-induced arthritic in vivo model in rat [ 34 ]. An in vivo study by Pop et al [ 43 ] has reported the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of NS oil in oral doses of 1, 2, and 4 mL/kg in comparison with diclofenac (5 mg/kg), as investigated in the carrageenan and Freund’s adjuvant-induced inflammatory in vivo model. In the same study, the antioxidant effects were studied and a decrease in malondialdehyde levels as well as oxidized glutathione was recorded.…”

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Nigella sativa L. and Allium ursinum Extracts in a Cellular Model of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

“…Shortly, the column temperature program started from 50 • C (held for 2 min) and increased to 160 • C with a rate of 4 • /min and then to 250 • C with a 15 • /min rate and held at 250 • C for 10 min. The carrier gas was helium (1 mL/min) and the temperature for the injector, ionic source and interface was set at 250 • C. The MS detection was performed on a quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in full scan (40-500 m/z), with electron impact (EI) as ion source at an ionization energy of 70 eV [38]. The tentative identification of the volatile compounds was achieved by matching their recorded mass spectra and the fragmentation patterns with those from the software's NIST27 and NIST147 mass spectra libraries (considering a minimum similarity of 85%) and verified with retention indices drawn from www.pherobase.com or www.flavornet.org for columns with a similar stationary phase.…”

Comparative Protective Effect of Nigella sativa Oil and Vitis vinifera Seed Oil in an Experimental Model of Isoproterenol-Induced Acute Myocardial Ischemia in Rats

“…Nigella sativa is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the botanical Ranunculaceae family. Its seeds contain many active compounds, with anti-inflammatory, anti-ischemic, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, and cardioprotective effects [ 7 , 8 ]. Compounds from Nigella sativa have been shown to have effects on monocyte-derived macrophages, which are prone to take up oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and augment local inflammation.…”