ABSTRACT
Thymoquinone is the active principle isolated from Nigella sativa seeds. It has shown potent anti-inflammatory effects and it has beneficial immunontodulatory properties. Although, cortisone has anti-inflammatory effects but it is one of the strongest known endogenous suppressors of the immune system. Cortisone increased chemotaxis of the white cells towards the Phosphate Buffer Saline [PBS] if it was injected intraperitonealy before thymoquinone while lead to a decrease if it was injected after thymoquinone. In contrast, the i.p injection of thymoquinone lead to a decrease if it was injected after cortisone while lead to increase if it was injected before cortisone. The i.p injection of cortisone and thymoquinone together didn't make observed changes. On the other hand, the chemotaxis of the white cells towards the antigen was increased at the 3[rd] week if cortisone was injected before thymoquinone and at the 4[th] week if it was injected after thymoquinone. While it was decreased slightly at the 5[th] week if cortisone and thymoquinone were injected together. The chemokinesis of white cells towards the PBS was decreased up to the end of experiniental time if cortisone was injected before thymoquinone while increased at the 5[th] week if it was injected after thymoquinone. It was decreased sharply at the 2[nd] week if cortisone and thymoquinone were injected together. On the other hand, the chemokinesis of white cells toward the antigen was decreased at the 7[th] week if cortisone was injected before thymoquinone and at the 8[th] week if it was injected after thymoquinone. Also, it was decreased sharply at the 2[nd] week if cortisone and thymoquinone were injected together. The results showed marked increase in percentage of Plaque Forming Cell [PFC] and Rosette Forming Cell [RFC], decrease in the agglutinating antibodies if cortisone was injected before or after thymoquinone while there was no marked change if they injected together, decrease in the total immunoglobulin level if cortisone was injected before or after thymoquinone while it was increased if cortisone and thymoquinone were injected together. It was clear that thymoquinone had an immune-modulatory effect on the immune-suppressive effect of cortisone and results showed that injection of thymoquinone with cortisone at the same time lead to higher effect than injecting it after or before cortisone