RESUMEN
Abstract Objectives Montelukast is a well-known leukotriene receptor antagonist commonly used in treating allergic rhinitis and asthma. Omega-3 fatty acid is also known as an antiallergic and immunomodulator molecule. This study aimed to elucidate the efficacy of systemic montelukast and omega-3 fatty acid treatment in allergic rhinitis models in Wistar Hannover rats. Methods This research was conducted on 28 healthy Wistar Hannover rats weighing 250-350 g. After establishing the allergic rhinitis model, nasal symptoms were observed and scored, and the nasal mucosa of all rats was investigated histologically. Light microscopy was utilized to evaluate the degree of ciliary loss, goblet cell hyperplasia, vascular congestion, vascular proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration, eosinophil infiltration, and hypertrophy in chondrocytes. Results As a result of the analysis of the data obtained from the study, it was determined that typical allergic rhinitis symptoms such as nasal scratching and sneezing were significantly reduced in the rats in the montelukast and omega-3 treated group, and these symptoms did not increase after repeated intranasal OVA-protease applications. Histological examinations after fish oil treatment did not reveal typical inflammatory changes in allergic rhinitis. None of the rats in the montelukast and omega-3 groups had any increase in goblet cells, whereas 14.3% of the rats in the control group and 28.6% of the rats in the allergic rhinitis group had mild increase. Last but not least, 71.4% of rats in the allergic rhinitis group had a moderate increase. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p< 0.001). Conclusion Regarding the outcomes of this research, it was observed that w-3 fatty acids had antiallergic effects, both histopathological and clinical, in the allergic rhinitis model. We believe that further randomized controlled trials incorporating larger cohorts are warranted to verify the use of omega-3 fatty acids in treating allergic rhinitis. The level of evidence of this article is Level 2.
RESUMEN
Abstract Objectives: Nigella sativa oil is known antiallergic and immunomodulatory effects. We aimed to compare this oil with mometasone furoate, a topical steroid, on a rat model in the prevention of allergic rhinitis symptoms. Methods: A total of 28 two-to-four-month-old Wistar Hannover rats weighing 250-350 g were randomly divided into four groups of seven, which included control, allergic rhinitis, mometasone furoate, and Nigella sativa oil groups. Loss of cilia, an increase of goblet cells, vascular proliferation, inflammatory cell count, eosinophil infiltration, and the degree of hypertrophy in chondrocytes were assessed by light microscopy. Results: The frequency of nasal scratching in the Nigella sativa oil group was found to be significantly lower compared with the allergic rhinitis group (p < 0.05). Typical inflammatory changes seen in allergic rhinitis were not detected in the Nigella sativa oil group. No inflammation was observed in 85.7% of both the healthy control group and the Nigella sativa oil group. In addition, no inflammation was observed in 71.4% of the mometasone furoate group, and this difference was found to be significant compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, eosinophil infiltration, cilia loss, chondrocyte hypertrophy, vascular proliferation, and goblet cell increase were found to be significantly decreased in the mometazone furoate and Nigella sativa oil groups compared to the allergic rhinitis group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings obtained from this study, we found anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of Nigella sativa oil as equally effective as mometasone furoate in the treatment of experimentaly generated allergic rhinitis. Level of evidence: IV.