No abstract

We have performed this study to investigate the modulatory effect of thymoquinone (TQ), the Nigella sativa active compound, on erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status during 1,2-dimethylhydrazine- (DMH-) induced colon carcinogenesis after initiation in male Wistar rats. Rats exposed to DMH showed an increase of malondialdehyde and conjugated diene levels, and an augmentation of enzyme activities like catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities was also noted. The TQ pretreatment restored the parameters cited above to near-normal values. However, the posttreatment shows an activity similar as that presented by DMH. Therefore, our investigation revealed that TQ was a useful compound preventing DMH-induced erythrocyte damages.

We investigated the chemical composition (by gas chromatography) and anti-microbial activity of the Tunisian Nigella sativa fixed oil against different standard Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains and Candida isolates by disc diffusion method, and determined the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) values. Twenty three fatty acids were identified in N. sativa fixed oil. Palmitic acid was the major saturated fatty acids (SFA) accounted for 12.2% of the total fatty acid (TFA). For monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), oleic acid was the major one with 21.67% of TFA. Linoleic acid has the most important percentage (58.73% of TFA) and was the major polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). For the antibacterial activity, the best inhibition was seen against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (16.66 mm) and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 (15.33 mm). The best antifugal activity was found against Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 (13.33 mm) and Candida glabata ATCC 90030 (12 mm). This fixed oil can be used as an antibacterial and antifungal agent each time the MIC values have a good effect on the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the Tunisian N. sativa fixed oil. Our results demonstrate important antibacterial and antifungal activities of the Tunisian N. sativa fixed oil; these effects further validate the traditional use of N. sativa in the folk medicine against bacterial and fungal infection.

The effects of steaming, grilling, and frying in corn and sunflower oils, respectively, on the fatty acid compositions of farmed and wild sea bream were evaluated. The lipid content increased with frying in both oil types. The maximum moisture value was found in steamed fish (P<0.05). Fried sea bream in corn and sunflower oils contained a lower content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (P<0.05) (3.87 and 5.32% of total fatty acids (TFA) in farmed fish and 2.96 and 2.14% TFA in wild fish). The n-3/n-6 ratio decreased significantly after cooking, particularly after frying in corn and sunflower oils, respectively: from 2.51 to 0.08 and 0.12 in farmed fish and from 0.94 to 0.06 and 0.04 in wild fish. The trans fatty acid levels remain stable after steaming and grilling, but they were significantly affected by frying. Our results reveal that the cooking process has considerable effect on the fatty acid compositions of farmed and wild sea bream.

biologie et génétique du cancer, des maladies hématologiques et auto-immunes, Faculté