Thymoquinone therapy remediates elevated brain tissue inflammatory mediators induced by chronic administration of food preservatives

Abstract

Continuous exposure to preservatives such as nitrite salts has deleterious effects on different organs. Meanwhile, Nigella sativa oil can remediate such organ dysfunction. Here, we studied the effect of consumption of thymoquinone (TQ); the main component of Nigella sativa oil on the brain damage induced by sodium nitrite. Forty adult male rats were daily given oral gavage of sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg) with or without thymoquinone (50 mg/kg). Oxidative stress, cytokines of inflammation, fibrotic elements and apoptotic markers in brain tissue were measured. Exposure to sodium nitrite (SN) resulted in increased levels of malondialdehyde, TGF-β, c-reactive protein, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and caspase-3 associated with reduced levels of glutathione, cytochrome c oxidase, Nrf2 and IL-10. However, exposure of rats’ brain tissues to thymoquinone resulted ameliorated all these effects. In conclusion, thymoquinone remediates sodium nitrite-induced brain impairment through several mechanisms including attenuation of oxidative stress, retrieving the reduced concentration of glutathione, blocks elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, restores cytochrome c oxidase activity, and reducing the apoptosis markers in the brain tissues of rats.

Glycyrrhizic acid ameliorates sodium nitrite-induced lung and salivary gland toxicity: Impact on oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis

“…On the other hand, natural antioxidants have been shown to preserve liable organs against SN-induced oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. 3,8,26 In this context, our results demonstrated increased MDA levels in lung and SMG concomitant with compromised antioxidant capacity in SN treated rats. Whereas GA administration improved redox status, attenuated lipid peroxidation, and restored total antioxidant capacity both in lung and salivary gland.…”

“…(1) Control group received phosphate buffer solution. (2) Sodium nitrite-treated (SN) group, rats were treated with (80 mg/kg) SN dissolved in distilled water (Sigma Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) (3,8). 3Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) treated group, rats were given 15 mg/kg GA, dissolved in distilled water (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) followed by SN (80 mg/kg).…”

“…This is attributed to industrial growth, improper agricultural practices, and uncontrolled consumption of processed food. 8 Therefore, development of therapeutic strategies to halt SN intoxication is of great demand.…”

Protective effect of thymoquinone against lung intoxication induced by malathion inhalation

“…The adapted laboratory animals were divided into (Fig. 1 ) five groups (8 rats per each group) as following; control group (G1) was given 1 ml of normal saline orally by gastric tube and received vehicle distilled water aerosol, thymoquinone group (G2) was given 1 ml of thymoquinone solution at a dose (50 mg/kg) orally by gastric tube 18 and received vehicle distilled water aerosol, malathion group (G3) inhaled 1000 mg /m 3 (1/5 of inhalation LC 50 ), (reference is Material Safety Data Sheet, Malathion (2011) 500E, PCP # 4709. Dorchester, Ontario, Canada: Registration and Regulatory) for 15 min for 5 days/week for three weeks) and administered 1 ml of normal saline through the oral route, and the other two groups (G4 and G5) were also inhaled malathion and then given thymoquinone orally at two levels of dosing 25 mg and 50 mg/kg body weight for G4 and G5, respectively.…”

Food Safety Risk Assessment of γ-Butyrolactone Transformation into Dangerous γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid in Beverages by Quantitative 13C-NMR Technique

“…With the prosperity of food industry, the ingredients of food become more complex. Safety incidents related to food ingredients emerge endlessly, among which food additives have become the most common causes of food safety incidents and a major public concern [1][2][3]. As one kind of important food ingredients, food additives are widely used in bread, beverage, meat products, and so on [4].…”