In vitro antibacterial activity of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds against multiple drug-resistant isolates of Shigella spp. and isolates of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli

The antibacterial activity of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds was studied against 37 isolates of Shigella dysenteriae 1, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei and Shigella boydii and 10 strains of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli. Most of the strains were clinically resistant to ampicillin, co-trimoxazole and tetracycline. All the strains tested showed promising sensitivity to the volatile oil. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the volatile oil for Shigella, Vibrio and Escherichia strains tested was between 50–400 μg/mL.     

Cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of Nigella sativa and thymoquinone,its constituent,in human renal cell carcinoma are comparable with cisplatin

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common renal malignancy in adults and exhibits highly intrinsic and acquired resistance to standard therapeutic strategies. We sought to determine the anti-cancer activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seeds (NSE) and thymoquinone (TQ). Human renal cell carcinoma (ACHN) and fibroblast L929 cell lines were treated with NSE and TQ, and cytotoxicity was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cell death pattern was determined by annexin V and propidium iodine (PI)-staining methods. Exposure to NSE, TQ and cisplatin significantly inhibited the growth of ACHN cells and showed significant increase of early apoptotic cells. Normal cells were more resistant to NSE and TQ-induced effects. The present study demonstrates that N. sativa and TQ exert anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on ACHN cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner, which suggests their potential to be used as a new therapeutic strategy for renal cancers.     

黑种草子中黑种草皂苷A的结构鉴定及含量测定

目的对从黑种草子中分离得到的黑种草皂苷A进行结构鉴定,并建立其含量测定方法。方法采用大孔吸附树脂、硅胶柱等方法分离纯化得到黑种草皂苷A,综合理化性质和波谱学数据进行结构鉴定。用HPLC法测定其在药材中的含量,用Agilent Eclipse XDB-C 18色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm);流动相为乙腈-水(28∶72);柱温:35℃;流速:1.0 mL·min-1;检测波长:210 nm。结果黑种草皂苷A在0.02012~1.00600 mg·mL^-1范围内,峰面积与质量浓度呈良好的线性关系(r=0.9999);平均回收率为104.51%,RSD值为1.46%(n=6)。结论该含量测定方法操作简便、准确度高、重复性好,可控制黑种草子药材的质量。     

Protective Effects of Nigella sativa against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Kidneys

Background. Ischemia-reperfusion, commonly seen in the fields of trauma surgery and renal transplantation, is a major cause of acute kidney injury and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The protective effects of Nigella sativa against ischemia-perfusion damage to various organs have been previously documented. However, its protective effects on kidney tissue against ischemia-reperfusion injury are unclear. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of Nigella sativa in modulating inflammation and apoptosis after renal I/R injury. Materials and methods. Thirty male Wistar-albino rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, ischemia-reperfusion, and ischemia-reperfusion + Nigella sativa. Rats in the third group were given Nigella sativa 6 h prior to ischemia-reperfusion and at the beginning of reperfusion. All rats except those in the sham-operated group underwent 45 min of bilateral renal ischemia followed by 45 min of reperfusion. Blood samples and liver tissues were harvested from the rats, and then rats were sacrificed. Serum urea and creatinine levels were determined. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in kidney tissue and blood were measured. Kidney tissue histopathology was also evaluated. Results. Nigella sativa was effective in reducing serum urea and creatinine levels as well as decreasing the tubular necrosis score. Nigella sativa treatment significantly reduced OSI and TOS levels and increased TAC levels in both kidney tissue and blood. Conclusion. The observed differences seem to demonstrate the protective effect of Nigella sativa against renal I/R injury in rat kidneys.     

瘤果黑种草子挥发油的化学成分分析及百里醌的定量

目的:分析瘤果黑种草子Nigella glandulifera Freyn(NG)挥发油化学成分,与国外果黑种草子N、sativa(NS)、黑种草子N damascena(ND)比较,对水蒸气蒸馏法(hydrodiStillation,HD)提取NG挥发油中百里醌定量.方法:采用HD与SFE-CO2萃取从NG提取挥发油,用GC-MS对化学成分分析,采用峰面积归一化法测定各成分相对百分含量,与NS,ND挥发油比较;用气相色谱外标一点法对挥发油中百里醌定量.结果:3个种属挥发性成分比较,NG,NS主要成分为间一伞花烃,分别是33.75%,61.48%,ND为β-榄香烯73.24%,NG,NS,ND百里醌相对百分含量分别为3.73%(HD),3.80%(HD),0.08%(HD),SFE-CO_2主要成分为亚油酸(66.36%),间-伞花烃较低(0.93%);NG挥发油百里醌定量1.58%.结论:NG挥发性成分与NS,ND有较大差异.     

Role of Nigella sativa and a number of its antioxidant constituents towards azoxymethane-induced genotoxic effects and colon cancer in rats

This study examined the chemopreventive effect of Nigella sativa and some of its antioxidant constituents on a number of colon cancer biomarkers in rats induced with azoxymethane (AOM). Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into ten subgroups: vehicle (1-5) and experimental (6-10). The rats in each group were fed one of the following diets: basal diet, (200 mg/kg) Nigella sativa, (0.2 mg/kg) selenium, (1.2 mg/kg) all-trans-retinol plus (100 mg/kg) DL-alpha-tocopherol and (10 mg/kg) thymoquinone, respectively. Only rats in subgroups 6-10 were injected with AOM (15 mg/kg) once per week for 2 weeks. Both groups were fed their respective diets for 5 weeks. Then they were killed and examined for colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Our result showed that only vitamin supplementation was effective on ACF. Nigella sativa revealed inhibitory effects only on DNA damage (day 34) in the AOM-treated rat group. Alternatively, selenium, thymoquinone and vitamins inhibited the MDA content in the liver. Although the exact mechanisms involved in the protective role of Nigella sativa against the initiation of colon carcinogenesis are not clearly understood, the results suggest that its inhibitory effects might depend on the combined competitive inhibition of various antioxidant constituents of this plant.     

瘤果黑种草子总皂苷提取工艺研究

目的 研究瘤果黑种草子总皂苷的含量测定方法及提取工艺.方法 采用比色法测定瘤果黑种草子总皂苷,并采用正交设计优选其提取工艺.结果 对照品浓度在49.78～132.75 μg/mL 范围内线性关系良好(r=0.997 1),平均回收率为102.80%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.69%(n=6);瘤果黑种草子总皂苷的最佳提取工艺为8倍量的30%乙醇在70 ℃水浴中提取3次,1 h/次.结论 比色法用于测定瘤果黑种草子总皂苷含量简单可行、重复性好,提取工艺稳定可行.     

The in vivo antifungal activity of the aqueous extract from Nigella sativa seeds

The effect of an aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds was studied on candidiasis in mice. An intravenous inoculum of Candida albicans produced colonies of the organism in the liver, spleen and kidneys. Treatment of mice with the plant extract (6.6 mL/kg equivalent to 5 mg of estimated protein, once daily for 3 days) 24 h after the inoculation caused a considerable inhibitory effect on the growth of the organism in all organs studied. A 5-fold decrease in Candida in kidneys, 8-fold in liver and 11-fold in spleen was observed in the groups of animals post-treated with the plant extract. Histopathological examination of the respective organs confirmed these findings. These results indicate that the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds exhibits inhibitory effect against candidiasis and this study validates the traditional use of the plant in fungal infections.     

The effect of Nigella sativa alone, and in combination with dexamethasone, on tracheal muscle responsiveness and lung inflammation in sulfur mustard exposed guinea pigs

Ethnomedical relevance

The anti-inflammatory activity of both systemic and local administrations of essential oil from Nigella sativa L. has been shown.

Aim of the study

Therefore, the effect of Nigella sativa on tracheal responsiveness (TR) and lung inflammation of sulfur mustard (SM) exposed guinea pigs was examined.

Materials and methods

Guinea pigs were exposed to diluent solution (control group), inhaled SM (SME group), SME treated with Nigella sativa (SME + N), SME treated with dexamethasone (SME + D) and SME treated with both drugs (SME + N + D), (n = 7 for each group). TR to methacholine, total white blood cell (WBC) and differential WBC count of lung lavage, and serum cytokines were measured 14 days post-exposure.

Results

The values of TR, eosinophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, interleukine-4 (IL-4) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) of SME group were significantly higher than those of controls (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The TR in SME + N, SME + D and SME + N + D was significantly lower compared to that of SME group (p < 0.01 for all cases). The percentage of eosinophil in SME + D, and the percentage of monocyte in SME + N + D (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01) were significantly lower than those in SME group. The neutrophil number was decreased in SME + N and SME + N + D groups compared to SME animals (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). IL-4 levels in serum of SME + N (p < 0.01), SME + D (p < 0.05), SME + N + D (p < 0.01) and IFN-γ in SME + N (p < 0.05) were greater than those in SME animals.

Conclusions

These results showed a preventive effect of Nigella sativa on TR and lung inflammation of SM exposed guinea pigs.     

瘤果黑种草子中磷脂类成分的研究

目的研究维药瘤果黑种草子中磷脂类化学成分。方法榨过油的瘤果黑种草子饼经95%乙醇提取,去脂溶性成分后,经MPLC硅胶柱色谱进行分离纯化,根据理化性质和波谱分析鉴定化合物的结构。结果从瘤果黑种草子中分离鉴定了5个化合物,分别为异株五加甲苷(1)、甘油(2)、1-油酰-甘油-3-磷酰胆碱(3)、甘油磷酰胆碱(4)、O-(1-丙三醇基)-O-(2-胆碱基)二硫代磷酸酯(5)。结论化合物3~5首次从黑种草属植物分离得到,其中化合物5为新化合物。