Immuno-modulation of cortisone-treated albino rats by thymoquinone

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

Histological study on the effect of thymoquinone -an immunomodulator- on duodenum and superior mesenteric lymph nodes of cortisone treated rats

Thymoquinone [TQ] was demonstrated as the major active component of Nigella sativa seed oil. It was reported that thymoquinone has an anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulatory effects. On the other hand, cortisone is one of the steroid hormones that used as an anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressor drug. In the present study, the effects of both thymoquinone and cortisone were studied on the histological structure of both duodenum and superior mesenteric lymph nodes of rats. It was noticed that there was an increase of the duodenum mucosal mucus-secreting cells and some nuclear changes in the nuclei of the Brunner's gland cells. There was an increase in number of macrophages, plasma cells and lymphocytes in the superior mesenteric lymph nodes. These findings were discussed according the anti-inflammatory and the immunestimulatory effects of thymoquinone as a point of view, and the anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing effects of cortisone on another point of view. It was concluded that thymoquinone has an anti-inflammatory and immune sthnulatory effects on rat duodenum and superior mesenteric lymph nodes. However, more investigations are still in need to recommend the replacement of this natural ingredient instead of cortisone with its side effects