Effect of different loads of exercise and Nigella sativa L. seed extract on serologic and hematologic parameters in rat

There are many recommendations for prophylactic usage of Nigella sativa L. for healing fatigue and body strengthening. However, a scientific and standard method for diagnosis and management of overtraining in athletes has not been introduced. Here, we studied the effect of different loads of exercise and N. sativa treatment on serologic and hematologic parameters in rat was examined. Male Wistar rats were divided into control sedentary (C), moderate trained (MT), overtrained (OT), control sedentary + N. sativa (NC), moderate trained + N. sativa (NM) and overtrained + N. sativa (NO) treatment. Animals’ performances were evaluated before and during the study. Immediately, 24 h and two weeks after the last bout of exercise serum concentration of corticosterone and lactate as well as total and differential WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, corpuscular indices and platelets were also measured. Increasing training load caused a significant performance decline in OT and OR groups (P <0.01-P <0.001). Compared to control group, serum corticosterone and lactate concentrations were significantly increased after moderate exercise and overtraining (P <0.05 to P <0.001), total WBC count (P 0.001), lymphocytes (P <0.01) and monocytes (P <0.01) were decreased in overtraining animal. N. sativa treatment caused a significant decrease in lactate concentration in overtraining (P <0.01) and serum corticosterone in all exercised (P <0.05) compared to untreated groups. Overtraining induced chronic inflammatory like changes, performance decline, stress hormone elevation, and WBC count decrement. N. sativa administration improved corticosterone elevation and metabolic state.

The preventive effects of natural adjuvants, G2 and G2F on tracheal responsiveness and serum IL-4 and IFN-? (th1/th2 balance) in sensitized guinea pigs

OBJECTIVE: The effects of natural adjuvants on lung inflammation and tracheal responsiveness were examined in sensitized guinea pigs. METHODS: The responses of guinea pig tracheal chains and the serum levels of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma were examined in control pigs and three other groups of guinea pigs: the sensitized group and two other sensitized groups treated with either adjuvant G2 or adjuvant G2F (n = 7 for each group). Sensitization of the animals was achieved by injection and inhalation of ovalbumin. RESULTS: The results showed that sensitized animals had increased tracheal responsiveness and increased serum levels of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma compared to controls (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Treatments with either G2 or G2F prevented the increase in tracheal responsiveness and serum interleukin-4 (p<0.01 to p<0.001). However, the serum levels of interferon-gamma and the interleukin-4-to-interferon-gamma ratio was increased in the treated groups (p<0.001 for all cases). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate important preventive effects of two natural adjuvants, particularly G2, on the changes in tracheal responsiveness, serum cytokines and the interleukin-4-to-interferon-gamma ratio (T helper 1/T helper 2 balance) in sensitized guinea pigs. .

Effect of inhaled fluticasone and salmeterol on tracheal responsiveness and lung inflammation: Influence of administration time and allergen-free period.

Background: The effect of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (SM) on tracheal responsiveness (TR) to methacholine and lung pathology of sensitized guinea pig was examined. Materials and Methods: Six groups of guinea pigs (n = 7) were sensitized to ovalbumin (OA). Three groups were subjected to inhaled FP and SM, one group during (A), one group after sensitization (for 18 days, B) and other group during sensitization but with 18-days delay before measurements (C). Other three groups were treated with placebo. Results: The TR to methacholine and tracheal muscle contractility were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.001 for all cases). The lungs of placebo groups showed variable pathological changes (nonsignificant to P < 0.001) compared to control group. TR, intra-alveolar and interabronchoal hemorrhagie (P < 0.001 in only group A) in treated groups with FP and SM were significantly decreased compared to placebo groups. The improvement in all variables in treatment groups A and C were more pronounced than group B. Conclusion: These results showed a protective effect of FP and SM on tracheal responsiveness and lung pathology during sensitization which was more effective than after sensitization.

Effect of Zataria multiflora Bois L. on histamine (H1) receptor of guinea pig tracheal chains.

The effects of three concentrations (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml) of aqueous-ethanolic extract of Z. multiflora bois, 10 nM chlorpheniramine, and saline on histamine (H1) receptors were tested on two groups of guinea pig tracheal chains [trachea incubated with indomethacin (Gr. 1), and indomethacin and propranolol (Gr. 2)]. The effective concentration of histamine causing 50% of maximum response (EC50) obtained in presence of chlorpheniramine in both groups, all concentrations of the extract in group 1 and its two higher concentrations in group 2 were significantly greater than those of saline. The values of concentration ratio minus one (CR-1) obtained in presence of all the three concentrations of the extract in group 1 and 10 mg/ml concentration in group 2 were significantly greater than those of chlorpheniramine. The values of EC50 obtained in presence of all the three concentrations of extract and CR-1 obtained in the presence of 2.5 and 5 mg/ml concentrations in group 2 were lower than group 1. There was not significant difference in maximum response obtained in presence of different concentrations of extract between two groups. There were parallel right ward shift in concentration response curves obtained in presence of all concentrations of the extract in both the groups. These results indicated an inhibitory effect of Z. multiflora at histamine H1 receptors.

The effect of Nigella sativa extract on tracheal responsiveness and lung inflammation in ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs

OBJECTIVE: To examine the preventive effect of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa on the tracheal responsiveness and white blood cell count in the lung lavage fluid of sensitized guinea pigs. METHODS: Three groups of guinea pigs sensitized to intraperitoneally injected and inhaled ovalbumin were given drinking water alone (group S), drinking water containing a low concentration of N. sativa extract (group S+LNS) or drinking water containing a high concentration of N. sativa extract (group S+HNS). The tracheal responses of control animals (group C) and the three groups of sensitized guinea pigs (n = 7 for all groups) to methacholine were measured by the assessment of the tracheal smooth muscle response to increasing concentrations of methacholine, and the effective concentration causing 50 percent of the maximum response (EC50) was determined. Tracheal responses to 0.1 percent ovalbumin and white blood cell counts in the lung lavage fluid were also examined. RESULTS: The tracheal response of the group S guinea pigs to both methacholine and ovalbumin was significantly higher than the response of the controls (p<0.01 for both cases). The tracheal responses of the S+LNS and S+HNS groups to both methacholine and ovalbumin were significantly decreased compared to those of the S group (p<0.05 to p<0.01). The total white blood cell and eosinophil counts in the lung lavage fluid of group S were significantly higher than those of group C (p<0.01). The white blood cell counts in both treated groups showed significant improvements (p<0.01 for both cases). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the preventive effect of the N. sativa extract on the tracheal response and lung inflammation in sensitized guinea pigs.

Pharmacologic bronchodilation response to salbutamol in COPD patients.

Background: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is the most characteristic feature of asthma, which is reported in COPD patients and smokers. Increased airway responsiveness to ί-agonists is also demonstrated in asthmatics as well as smokers. However, there is no report regarding AHR to ί-agonist drugs in COPD patients. Therefore, in this study pharmacologic bronchodilation response to salbutamol in COPD patients was examined. Materials and Methods: The threshold concentrations of inhaled salbutamol required for a 20% change in forced expiratory flow in 1 sec (FEV 1 ) as PC 20 , or a 35% change in specific airway conductance (sGaw) as PC 35 was measured in 14 COPD patients and 14 normal subjects. Results: Airway responsiveness to salbutamol in COPD patients (PC 20 = 14.14 ± 1.62 and PC 35 = 9.70 ± 1.48 mg/l) was significantly lower than normal subjects (PC 20 = 224.57 ± 16.62 and PC 35 = 81.87 ± 8.16 mg/l, P < 0.001 for both cases). The values of FEV 1 and sGaw in COPD patients (56.43 ± 14.45 and 0.081 ± 0.120 respectively) were significantly lower than those of normal subjects (104.07 ± 5.72 and 0.194 ± 0.041 respectively), (P < 0.001 for FEV 1 and P < 0.005 for sGaw). There was a significant correlation between FEV 1 with PC 20 salbutamol (r = 0.862, P < 0.001). The correlations between PC 20 and PC 35 was also statistically significant (r = 0.862, P < 0.001). Conclusion: These results showed increased airway responsiveness of most COPD patients to salbutamol which was highly correlated to airway caliber.

Relaxant effects of different fractions from Nigella sativa L. on guinea pig tracheal chains and its possible mechanism(s).

The relaxant effects of four cumulative concentrations of n-hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous fractions of N. sativa (0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 g%) in comparison with saline as negative control and four cumulative concentrations of theophylline (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mM) were examined by their relaxant effects on precontracted tracheal chains of guinea pig by 60 mM KCl (group 1) and 10 microM methacholine (group 2). In group 1, all concentrations of only theophylline showed significant relaxant effects. However, in group 2, all concentrations of theophylline and methanol fraction, 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 g% concentrations of dichloromethane and 1.2 and 2.0 g% concentrations of n-hexane fractions showed significant relaxant effects compared to that of saline. In addition, in group 1, the relaxant effect of most concentrations of all fractions except the low concentration (0.8 g%) of dichloromethane and methanol fraction were significantly less than those of theophylline. The relaxant effect of different concentrations of methanol and dichloromethane fraction and 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 g% concentrations of n-hexane fraction were significantly greater in group 2 compared to group 1 experiments. There were significant positive correlations between the relaxant effects and concentrations for all fractions (except aqucous fraction) in group 2 and for theophylline in both groups but a negative correlation for n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol fractions in group 1. The results showed relaxant effect of most fractions from N. sativa on tracheal chains of guinea pigs which was more potent for methanol and dichloromethane fractions.

Effect of aqueous extract from Nigella sativa L. on guinea pig isolated heart.

A potent inhibitory effect of aqueous extract from N. sativa on calcium channel of guinea pig heart was found comparable and even greater than that of diltazem. The results may also indicate an opening effect for the plant on potassium channel of isolated heart.