Effects of thymoquinone and montelukast on sinonasal ciliary beat frequency.

BACKGROUND: Herbal remedies predate written history and continue to be used more frequently than conventional pharmaceutical medications. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a traditional herb that has been used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemopreventive effects. Montelukast is a conventional medication used to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of TQ and montelukast on human respiratory epithelium specifically addressing effects on cilia beat frequency (CBF). METHODS: Well-differentiated human sinonasal epithelial cultures, grown at an air-liquid interface were treated with varying concentrations of TQ and montelukast. Changes in CBF were determined using the Sissons-Ammons Video Analysis system. RESULTS: When applied to the basolateral surface, TQ showed a statistically significant dose-dependent increase in CBF with maximal stimulation at 30 minutes. Effects of montelukast on CBF showed both time and dose dependence with maximal stimulatory effect measured at 6 hours. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that TQ and montelukast have dose-dependent effects on CBF, extending their mechanism of action in respiratory diseases.