The effects of Nigella sativa hydro-alcoholic extract and thymoquinone on lipopolysaccharide - induced depression like behavior in rats

Abstract

Background:Neuroimmune factors have been proposed as contributors to the pathogenesis of depression. Beside other therapeutic effects including neuroprotective, antioxidant, anticonvulsant and analgesic effects, Nigella sativa and its main ingredient, thymoquinone (TQ), have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, the effects of Nigella sativa hydro-alcoholic extract and thymoquinone was investigated on lipopolysaccharide- induced depression like behavior in rats.Materials and Methods:50 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: Group 1 (control group) received saline instead of NS extract, thymoquinone or lipopolysaccharide. The animals in group 2 (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) were treated by saline instead of NS extract and were injected LPS (100μg/kg, ip) 2 hours before conducting each forced swimming test. Groups 3 (LPS + NS 200) and 4 (LPS + NS 400) were treated by 200 and 400 mg/kg of NS (ip), respectively, from the day before starting the experiments and before each forced swimming test. These animals were also injected LPS 2hours before conducting each swimming test. The animals in group 5 received TQ instead of NS extract. Forced swimming test was performed 3 times for all groups (in alternative days), and immobility time was recorded. Finally, the animals were placed in an open- field apparatus, and the crossing number on peripheral and central areas was observed.Results:The immobility time in the LPS group was higher than that in the control group in all 3 times (P<0.001). The animals in LPS + NS 200, LPS + NS 400 and LPS + TQ had lower immobility times in comparison with LPS groups (P<0.01, and P<0.01). In the open- field test, the crossing number of peripheral in the LPS group was higher than that of the control one (P<0.01) while the animals of LPS + NS 200, LPS + NS 400 and LPS + TQ groups had lower crossing number of peripheral compared with the LPS group (P <0.05, and P<0.001). Furthermore, in the LPS group, the central crossing number was lower than that of the control group (P<0.01). In the animals treated by NS or TQ, the central crossing number was higher than that of the LPS group (P<0.05, and P<0.001).Conclusions:The results of the present study showed that hydro-alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa can prevent LPS-induced depression like behavior in rats. These results support the traditional belief on the beneficial effects of Nigella sativa in the nervous system. Moreover, further investigations are required in order to better understand this protective effect.

Pathological Study on the Role of Thymoquinone in Experimentally Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats

“…However, NF-κB showed intense reactivity in LPS significant as the previous report [16]. Concurrent treatment of rats with TQ significantly counteracted the inflammatory effect of LPS and moderated all the injury markers up to the normal levels [6,15,17,35,36]. At the same context, expression of the activated NF-kB revealed a mild degree in rats treated with TQ, a finding consistent with the existence of constitutive NF-κB levels in alveolar macrophages.…”

Effects of &lt;i&gt;Nigella sativa&lt;/i&gt; Seed Extract on Perphenzine-Induced Muscle Rigidity in Male Mice

“…Many herbal medicines contain high level of antioxidants and therefore can be good candidates for catatonia research. Some studies reported that Nigella sativa can be effective in the treatment of neurological diseases such as depression [7] [16]. Also, in one study, the protective effect of thymoquinone, one of the main chemicals in black seed on dopamine-producing cells against MPP+ and rotenone has been confirmed [8].…”

“…According to some studies, it appears that this plant may have anti-depression and anti-Parkinson effects [7] [8].…”

Tamoxifen antagonizes the effects of ovarian hormones to induce anxiety and depression-like behavior in rats

“…The results of OP test also confirmed a depression like behavior induced by tamoxifen in the presence of ovarian hormones. In OP test the crossing number in the central area is considered as criteria for depression 10,21 . In the present study, the animals of Sham-TAM group had lower crossed number in the central area of OP apparatus compared to Sham group while, there were no significant differences between OVX and OVX-TAM groups.…”

“…In addition, within the apparatus was divided to two zones called peripheral and central zones. Each animal was placed in the central zone and its movement was recorded by a digital camera for 5 min, and the following criteria were calculated: (1) the crossing number in the central zone, (2) the crossing number in the peripheral zone, (3) the traveled distance in central zone, (4) the traveled distance in peripheral zone, (5) the time spent in central zone, (6) the time spent in in peripheral zone, (7) the total crossing number, (8) the total traveled distance 10 .…”