In the previous studies the relaxant, anti-cholinergic (functional antagonism) and anti-histaminic effects of Nigella sativa have been demonstrated on guinea pig tracheal chains. To elucidate the main substance responsible for the relaxant effect of this plant, the effect of thymoquinone, one of the main constituent of Nigella sativa was examined in this study. The bronchodilatory effects of th...

BACKGROUND Thymoquinone is the major active principle of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) and constitutes about 30% of its volatile oil or ether extract. N. sativa oil and seed are commonly used as a natural remedy for many ailments. Using modern scientific techniques, a number of pharmacological actions of N. sativa have been investigated including immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, ant...

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) is a product of the initial response to secondary immune response, which accumulates in distal segment nerve after crush injury. Thymoquinone modulates adaptive response. Effect thymoquinone administration on local IgG levels Rattus norvegicus Wistar rats sciatic injury model has not been elucidated.METHODS: This was an experimental study, with 63 that divided...

Objectives: Dependence and tolerance are major restricting factors in the clinical use of opioid analgesics. In the present study, the effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, on morphine dependence and tolerance were investigated in mice. Materials and Methods: Male adult NMRI mice were made tolerant and dependent by repeated injections of morphine (50, 50, and 7...

Cancer is one of the main causes of mortality in the world which appears by the effect of enviromental physico-chemical mutagen and carcinogen agents. The identification of new cytotoxic drugs with low side effects on immune system has developed as important area in new studies of immunopharmacology. Thymoquinone (TQ), derived from the medicinal spice Nigella sativa (also called black cumin) ex...

Objective(s): For determining the mechanism of anti-asthmatic effect of thymoquinone, this investigation evaluated the effect of thymoquinone in the presence of selective A2A and A2B adenosine receptor antagonists (ZM241385 and MRS1706, respectively). Materials and Methods: Seventy guinea pigs were randomly divided to 7 groups; control (C), sensitized with ovalbumin (S), sensitized groups pretr...

Background and objectives: Nigella sativa L. is one of the most important species in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). According to ITM, the plant seeds can cause bronchospasm in patients with hot temperament; therefore it is recommended to process the seeds with grape vinegar before usage. This process may influence some components of the seeds; thus, in the present...

Relapse of prostate cancer after androgen ablation therapy is hormone-refractory, with continued tumor growth being dependent on the androgen receptor (AR). E2F-1, a regulator of cell proliferation and viability, reportedly plays a role in the development of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Thymoquinone is a component of Nigella sativa, an herb used for thousands of years for culinary and me...

The serine/threonine kinase Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is overexpressed in many types of human cancers, and has been implicated as an adverse prognostic marker for cancer patients. Plk1 localizes to its intracellular anchoring sites via its polo-box domain (PBD). Here we show that Plk1 can be inhibited by small molecules which interfere with its intracellular localization by inhibiting the funct...

The incidence of food hypersensitivity and food allergies is on the rise and new treatment approaches are needed. We investigated whether N. sativa, one of its components, thymoquinone, or synthetic opioid receptor (OR)-agonists can alleviate food allergy. Hence, ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c-mice were pre-treated either with a hexanic N. sativa seed extract, thymoquinone, kappa-(U50'4889) ...