Protective effects of Nigella sativa oil and thymoquinone against toxicity induced by the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide. Br J Biomed Sci (original) (raw)

Effects of volatile oil constituents of Nigella sativa on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice: evidence for antioxidant effects of thymoquinone

Research communications in molecular pathology and pharmacology, 2001

Effects of the volatile oil constituents of Nigella sativa, namely, thymoquinone (TQ), p-cymene and alpha-pinene, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4-indued acute liver injury were investigated in mice. A single dose of CCl4 (15 microl/Kg i.p.) induced hepatotoxicity 24 h after administration manifested biochemically as significant elevation of the enzymes activities of serum alanine transaminase (ALT, EC:2.6.1.2), asparate transaminase (AST, EC:2.6.1.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC: 1.1.1.27). The toxicity was further evidenced by a significant decrease of non-protein sulfhydryl(-SH) concentration, and a significant increase of lipid peroxidation measued as malondialdhyde (MDA) in the liver tissues. Administration of different doses of the TQ (4, 8, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/Kg i.p.) did not alter the chosen biochemical parameters measured, while higher doses of TQ were lethal. The LD50 was 90.3 mg/Kg (77.9-104.7, 95% CL). Pretreatment of mice with different doses of TQ 1 h before CCl4 in...

Oral and intraperitoneal LD50 of thymoquinone, an active principle of Nigella sativa, in mice and rats

Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC

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, antioxidant, antihistaminic, antiasthmatic, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial and antiparasitic. There are only few reports regarding the toxicity of thymoquinone. The present study was carried out to determine LD50 of thymoquinone both in mice and rats, orally as well as intraperitoneall, by the method of Miller and Tainter. Autopsy and histopathology of liver, kidney, heart and lungs were also determined. The LD50 in mice after intraperitoneal injection was determined to be 104.7 mg/kg (89.7-119.7, 95% confidence interval) and after oral ingestion was 870.9 mg/kg (647.1-1094.8, 95% confidence interval). Whereas...

Oral administration of Nigella sativa oil and thymoquinone attenuates long term cisplatin treatment induced toxicity and oxidative damage in rat kidney

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 2017

Cisplatin (CP) is an effective anti-cancer drug which causes remarkable toxicity to the kidney, particularly to proximal tubules, by generating reactive oxygen species. Nigella sativa (NS), commonly known as "black cumin" reduces the progression of various kidney disorders. Thymoquinone (TQ), the major bioactive constituent of NS seeds, has been credited for various pharmacological effects of NS. Since, a typical clinical CP dosing regimen involves CP administration in multiple cycles over a long time duration, hence the present study aimed to evaluate the renoprotective efficacy of NS oil and TQ against multiple dose CP treatment induced deleterious biochemical and histological alterations in rat kidney. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups viz. control, CP, CPNSO, CPTQ, NSO and TQ. Animals in CPNSO and CPTQ groups were pre-administered NSO (2ml/kg bwt, orally) and TQ (1.5mg/kg bwt, orally) respectively for 14 days and were then treated with CP (3mg/kg bwt,...

Thymoquinone, active constituent of Nigella sativa oil, against gastric cancer: A new hope of therapy

Background The oil and seeds of the famous medicinal herb Nigella sativa have been utilized for millennia. Its volatile oil contains thymoquinone, which has a variety of medicinal effects. We set out to investigate the effects of thymoquinone on human gastric adenocarcinoma cells, including its cytotoxic, genotoxic, apoptotic and ROS-producing characteristics. Methods The effects of a 24-hour exposure to thymoquinone at various dosages were investigated on a typical cell line of gastric cancer cells. Cytotoxicity, formation of reactive oxygen species and genotoxicity were evaluated by using the tests of ATP cell viability, 2',7'dichlorodihydrofluorescein-diacetate and alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis respectively. Western blotting and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining were also used to identify the induction of apoptosis. Results Thymoquinone decreased gastric adenocarcinoma cells viability (80%) at the maximum concentration and also significantly induced apo...