Effects of thymoquinone and curcumin on the regeneration of rat livers subject to 70% hepatectomy

Purpose: To investigate thymoquinone, curcumin and a combination of these two drugs were effective or not at the growth of liver.Methods: Forty female Wistar-Albino rats distributed into five groups of eight rats each, control, thymoquinone, curcumin, and thymoquinone/curcumin groups. Pathological specimens were studied using the Ki-67 Proliferation Index(PI); and arginase(Arg), tissue plasminogen activator(tPA), ceruloplasmin(Cer) and nitric oxide(NO) were studied in biochemical analysis.Results: Our results showed that Ki-67 proliferation index was low in Groups 1. The proliferation coefficient was significantly higher in the Group 2 and Group 4 than in the Group 1 and Group 3.(P < 0.001 between Groups 1 and 2, 1 and 4, and 3 and 4). There was no difference between Groups 2 and 4 (P = 1). The results of the biochemical Arg, tPA and Cer test showed statistically between the Group 1 and Group 2. NO showed significant differences Group 1 and 3.Conclusions: Thymoquinone and curcumin both have known positive effects on the organism. Histological and biochemical tests showed that thymoquinone is more effective than curcumin.(AU)

Effects of thymoquinone against cisplatin-induced cardiac injury in rats

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) in cisplatin (CP) induced myocardial injury.METHODS:A total of 28 adult male Wistar-Albino rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups as follows: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (CP at 15 mg/kg dose), Group 3 (TQ 40 mg/kg/day for two days prior to CP injection and on third day, CP at 15 mg/kg dose was intraperitoneally administered and TQ treatment continued until fifth day) and Group 4 (TQ at 40mg/kg/day dose for five days).RESULTS:There was a significant increment in CP group in terms of congestion, edema and pycnotic nuclei in myocardial fibers, comparing with other groups. TQ group exhibited significant increase in expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, comparing with CP group (p<0.05). In only CP administered group, expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was lowest comparing with other groups.CONCLUSION:Established data indicate that cisplatin is cardiotoxic and thymoquinone may be useful in treating CP-induced cardiac injury.(AU)

Effects of thymoquinone on interleukin-1 and interferon gamma gene expression and antibody titers against newcastle disease in broiler chickens under oxidative stress

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of the dietary inclusion of different levels of thymoquinone (TQ) of broilers subjected to oxidative stress or not on the antibody titers against Newcastle disease and on the gene expression of interleukine-1 and interferon gamma. A total of 320 one-day-old broilers was randomly assigned to eight treatments with four replicates of 10 birds each, in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of four thymoquinone (TQ) levels (0, 5, 8, or 11 mg/kg body weight) and two levels tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) injection (0 or 0.02 mmol/kg of body weight). Blood samples were collected from two birds per replicate to determine antibody titers against Newcastle disease. At the end of experiment, two birds per replicate were randomly selected, sacrificed and their spleens were collected to evaluate the genes expressioninterleukin-1 and interferon gamma (p 0.05). The dietary inclusion of TQ of broilers subjected or not oxidative stress increased antibody production against Newcastle disease (p 0.05). Both individual and combined dietary inclusion of t-BHP and TQ promote the differentiation and proliferation of spleen cells and the gene expression of interleukin-1 and interferon gamma (p 0.05).

Effects of thymoquinone on interleukin-1 and interferon gamma gene expression and antibody titers against newcastle disease in broiler chickens under oxidative stress

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of the dietary inclusion of different levels of thymoquinone (TQ) of broilers subjected to oxidative stress or not on the antibody titers against Newcastle disease and on the gene expression of interleukine-1 and interferon gamma. A total of 320 one-day-old broilers was randomly assigned to eight treatments with four replicates of 10 birds each, in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of four thymoquinone (TQ) levels (0, 5, 8, or 11 mg/kg body weight) and two levels tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) injection (0 or 0.02 mmol/kg of body weight). Blood samples were collected from two birds per replicate to determine antibody titers against Newcastle disease. At the end of experiment, two birds per replicate were randomly selected, sacrificed and their spleens were collected to evaluate the genes expressioninterleukin-1 and interferon gamma (p 0.05). The dietary inclusion of TQ of broilers subjected or not oxidative stress increased antibody production against Newcastle disease (p 0.05). Both individual and combined dietary inclusion of t-BHP and TQ promote the differentiation and proliferation of spleen cells and the gene expression of interleukin-1 and interferon gamma (p 0.05). (AU)

Inhibitory effect of thymoquinone from Nigella sativa against SARS-CoV-2 main protease. An in-silico study / Efeito inibitório da timoquinona de Nigella sativa contra a principal protease do SARS-CoV-2. Um estudo in silico

Nigella sativa is known for the safety profile, containing a wealth of useful antiviral compounds. The main protease (Mpro, 3CLpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is being considered as one of the most attractive viral target, processing the polyproteins during viral pathogenesis and replication. In the current investigation we analyzed the potency of active component, thymoquinone (TQ) of Nigella sativa against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The structures of TQ and Mpro was retrieved from PubChem (CID10281) and Protein Data Bank (PDB ID 6MO3) respectively. The Mpro and TQ were docked and the complex was subjected to molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for a period 50ns. Protein folding effect was analyzed using radius of gyration (Rg) while stability and flexibility was measured, using root means square deviations (RMSD) and root means square fluctuation (RMSF) respectively. The simulation results shows that TQ is exhibiting good binding activity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, interacting many residues, present in the active site (His41, Cys145) and also the Glu166, facilitating the pocket shape. Further, experimental approaches are needed to validate the role of TQ against virus infection. The TQ is interfering with pocket maintaining residues as well as active site of virus Mpro which may be used as a potential inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2 for better management of COVID-19.

Nigella sativa é conhecida pelo perfil de segurança, contendo uma grande variedade de compostos antivirais úteis. A principal protease (Mpro, 3CLpro) da síndrome respiratória aguda grave 2 (SARS-CoV-2) está sendo considerada como um dos alvos virais mais atraentes, processando as poliproteínas durante a patogênese e replicação viral. Na presente investigação analisamos a potência do componente ativo, timoquinona (TQ) de Nigella sativa contra SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. As estruturas de TQ e Mpro foram recuperadas de PubChem (CID10281) e Protein Data Bank (PDB ID 6MO3), respectivamente. O Mpro e o TQ foram acoplados e o complexo foi submetido a simulações de dinâmica molecular (MD) por um período de 50ns. O efeito de dobramento de proteínas foi analisado usando o raio de giração (Rg) enquanto a estabilidade e a flexibilidade foram medidas usando a raiz quadrada média dos desvios (RMSD) e a raiz média quadrada da flutuação (RMSF), respectivamente. Os resultados da simulação mostram que o TQ está exibindo boa atividade de ligação contra o SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, interagindo em muitos resíduos presentes no sítio ativo (His41, Cys145) e também o Glu166, facilitando o formato da bolsa. Além disso, são necessárias abordagens experimentais para validar o papel do TQ contra a infecção pelo vírus. O TQ está interferindo nos resíduos de manutenção do bolso, bem como no sítio ativo do vírus Mpro, que pode ser usado como um potencial inibidor contra o SARS-CoV-2 para um melhor gerenciamento da Covid-19.