Rana Keyhanmanesh
1*, Laleh Pejman
2, Hasan Omrani
2, Zahra Mirzamohammadi
2, Amir A Shahbazfar
31 Tuberculosis and Lung Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: In previous studies, the relaxant and antihistaminic effects of thymoquinone, the main constituents of Nigella sativa,
have been demonstrated on guinea pig tracheal chains. In the present
study, the prophylactic effect of (IP) single dose of thymoquinone on
tracheal responsiveness and lung inflammation of guinea pig model of
asthma was examined.
Methods: Thirty guinea pigs were
randomly divided to 3 groups; control (C), sensitized (S) and pretreated
group with (TQ); 3 mg/kg, IP (S+TQ). Tracheal responsiveness to
methacholine and ovalbumin (OA), total and differential cell count in
bronchoalveolar lavage, lung pathological changes and blood Interleukin
4(IL-4) and Interferon gamma (IFNγ) level in three groups were measured.
Results: Increased tracheal
responsiveness to methacholine and OA, lung lavage fluid white blood
cell (WBC) and eosinophil count, IL-4 and IFN-γ levels and pathological
changes were seen in sensitized group in comparison to control group
(p<0.001 to p<0.05). Decreased tracheal responsiveness to
methacholine and OA, pathological changes and bronchoalveolar
lavage eosinophil were observed in S+TQ group compared to S group
(p<0.001 to p<0.05). However, tracheal responsiveness to
methacholine and OA, contractility, bronchoalveolar lavage WBC
and eosinophil and most of pathological changes in S+TQ group were
significantly higher than those in controls (p<0.01 to p<0.05).
Conclusion: These results showed the preventive effect of single dose of thymoquinone on guinea pig model of asthma.