The Protective Effect of Nigella Sativa on Lung Injury of Sulfur Mustard–exposed Guinea Pigs

Abstract

The lung is one of the most exposable organs to chemical warfare agents such as sulfur mustard (SM) gas. Airway hyperresponsiveness and lung inflammation are reported in chemical warfare victims. There is no definite treatment for respiratory disorders induced by SM exposure. However, the protective effect of Nigella sativa on inflammatory process was shown. In the present study, the protective effect of Nigella sativa on tracheal responsiveness and lung inflammation of SM exposed guinea pigs was examined. Guinea pigs were exposed to diluent's solution (ethanol, control group), 100 mg/m(3) inhaled sulfur mustard (SME group), and SME treated with Nigella sativa, 0.08 g daily (SME+N), n = 6 for each group. Tracheal responsiveness (TR) to methacholine, total white blood cell (WBC) count of lung lavage, and differential WBC were done 14 days post exposure. The weigh of animal were measured at the beginning, middle (day 7), and the end (day 14) of the study. The TR of SM-exposed guinea pigs was significantly (P < .001) and WBC nonsignificantly higher than those of controls. In SME guinea pigs, there was a weight loss but in the case of SME+N guinea pigs, no obvious weight change thought the study was seen. The eosinophl, monocyte, and lympocytes in SME animals were significantly changed compared to control group (P < .001 for all cases). Monocyte, lymphocyte, and neutrophil number were decreased in SME+N group compared to SME animals, which was significant only for neutrophil (P < .05). These results showed a preventive effect of Nigella sativa on TR of SM-exposed guinea pigs.

A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb

“…TR to methacholine, total white blood cell count of lung lavage, and differential white blood cell were done 14 d post exposure. The results showed a preventive effect of N. sativa on TR of sulfur mustard gasexposed guinea pigs [99] . The possible beneficial effects of the seeds of N. sativa L. on experimental lung injury in male Wistar rats after pulmonary aspiration of different materials was investigated.…”

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory aspects of Nigella sativa for its preventive and bronchodilatory effects on obstructive respiratory diseases: A review of basic and clinical evidence

“…It has been shown that pretreatment with hydroethanolic extract of N. sativa in guinea pigs with COPD induced by cigarette smoking was as effective as vitamin C in reducing inflammation and tracheal responsiveness (Keyhanmanesh, Nazemiyeh, et al, 2014). Moreover, the protective and antioxidant effects of aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds in sulphur mustard-exposed chemical war victims (Boskabady & Farhadi, 2008) and the effects of N. sativa hydroethanolic extract in sulphur mustard-exposed guinea pigs have been shown (Hossein et al, 2008).…”

“…Hydroethanolic extract of N. sativa treatment in ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs could improve total white blood cell (WBC) and eosinophil counts in the lung lavage (Boskabady, Keyhanmanesh, Khamneh, & Ebrahimi, 2011). The protective effect of N. sativa on lung inflammation of sulphur mustard-exposed guinea pigs showed the ameliorating and preventive effects on total WBC and eosinophils which can be related to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the plant (Hossein, Nasim, & Sediqa, 2008).…”

“…The relaxant effects of volatile oil of 22 plants from 11 different families including N. sativa on guinea pigs' tracheal and Reducing inflammation and tracheal responsiveness Cigarette exposed guinea pigs Keyhanmanesh, Nazemiyeh, et al, 2014 Hydroethanolic extract Protective and antioxidant effects against sulphur mustard Sulphur mustard exposed guinea pigs Hossein et al, 2008 Hydroethanolic extract Improvement of haematological and biochemical parameters Thymoquinone-rich fraction extract Thymoquinone Decreasing the total cholesterol and LDL OH formation Upregulation of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase 2(GPX) genes Increasing the SOD1 and GPX Hypercholesterolemic rats Ismail et al, 2010 ileal smooth muscle were examined. The relaxant effects of plants and some of its constituents were compared with catecholamines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors.…”

The injured lung: clinical issues and experimental models

“…In vivo small animal models provide preliminary evaluation of drug treatment effectiveness [17,18], but there can be inherent issues with these models. Owing to their small body size and variations in physiology, small animals are not always the best models to extrapolate to man in the evaluation of lung injury.…”