From Molecular Pathology of COVID 19 to Nigella Sativum as a Treatment Option: Scientific Based Evidence of Its Myth or Reality / 中国结合医学杂志

COVID-19 virus is a causative agent of viral pandemic in human beings which specifically targets respiratory system of humans and causes viral pneumonia. This unusual viral pneumonia is rapidly spreading to all parts of the world, currently affecting about 105 million people with 2.3 million deaths. Current review described history, genomic characteristics, replication, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 with special emphasis on Nigella sativum (N. sativum) as a treatment option. N. sativum seeds are historically and religiously used over the centuries, both for prevention and treatment of different diseases. This review summarizes the potential role of N. sativum seeds against COVID-19 infection at levels of in silico, cell lines and animal models.

Effects of Bread with Nigella Sativa on Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure and Anthropometric Indices in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is one of important herbal foods in traditional medicine and many studies have conducted to show the effects of this plant on several diseases. The goal of this study was the evaluation of effects of bread with N. Sativa on clinical parameters such as blood glucose, blood pressure (BP) and anthropometry indices in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS). A study as double-blind, cross-over, randomized clinical trial was performed in 51 MetS patients in Chalus, north region of Iran. After dividing of patients randomly in 2 groups, in phase 1, intervention group (A, n = 27) used daily a bread with N. sativa and control group (B, n = 24) used the same bread but without N. sativa for 2 months. After considering of 15 day wash out period, phase 2 was began with changing of position of 2 groups. Measuring of parameters including fasting blood glucose (FBG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) was done before and after of 2 phases. After evaluation of treatment, sequence and time effects of intervention on parameters, it is shown that consumption of this bread has not significant treatment effect (as main effect) on FBG, SBP, DBP, WC, weight, and BMI (p > 0.05). Sequence effect on FBG, weight, WC, and BMI was significant (p < 0.05), but was not on BP. Time effect was only significant for DBP. Consumption of bread with N. sativa in MetS patients has not significant effect on FBG, BP, weight, WC, and BMI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: IRCT2015041821815N1

Effects of Bread with Nigella Sativa on Lipid Profiles, Apolipoproteins and Inflammatory Factor in Metabolic Syndrome Patients

Nigella sativa (N.sativa) has been used in traditional medicine and many studies have been performed in different communities in order to reveal the effects of it on medical disorders and chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bread with N. Sativa on lipid profiles, apolipoproteins, and inflammatory factors in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients. A randomized, double-blind, cross-over and clinical trial was conducted in 51 MetS patients of both sexes with age group of 20-65 years old in Chaloos, north of Iran. Patients were randomly divided in two groups. In phase 1, intervention group (A, n = 27) received daily a bread with N. sativa and wheat bran and control group (B, n = 24) received the same bread without N. sativa for 2 months. After 2 weeks of wash out period, phase 2 was started with switch the intervention between two groups. Measuring of lipid profiles, apolipoproteins and inflammatory factor was performed for all patients before and after two phases. In this study, treatment, sequence and time effects of intervention were evaluated and revealed that consumption of bread with N. sativa has no significant treatment and time effects on triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHOL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein (APO)-A, APO-B and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p > 0.05). Sequence effect was significant on CHOL, LDL, APO-A, and APO-B (p 0.05). Consumption of bread with N. sativa has no a significant effect on lipid profiles, apolipoproteins and inflammatory factor in MetS patients.

Refractory seizures in children

Epilepsy is described as a heterogeneous clinical syndrome results from various cerebral destructions. It is categorized to partial and generalized forms. Degree of neural system impairment and affected area determine the severity and pattern of symptoms. Patients might experience sensory, motor, or both signs and symptoms. About 60% of epileptic patients suffer from partial type. It is estimated that up to 30% of epilepsy cases would not be controlled adequately despite sufficient and proper management. Anacyclus pyrethrum, Citrus aurantium var. amara, Paeonia officinalis, Rosa Damascena and Nigella Sativa are some of herbal drugs which have antiepileptic effect. Natural agents are valuable sources to treat chronic diseases and a huge number of world's population believe herbs are effective and safe for daily primary health care needs. There is not enough evidence about their efficacy and safety obtained from randomized control trials

Biochemical and molecular evaluation of some Egyptian oils as antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents

The Antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities of black seed oil, sesame oil and olive oil were evaluated. The in vitro scavenging activities of the three oils on H[2]O[2] and DPPH radicals, microsomal lipid peroxidation, and the iron-chelating ability were studied. In addition, the anticancer activity; cytotoxicity of the three oils on liver [HEP G2], breast [MCF7] and colon [HCTI 16] human tumor cell lines were also tested using sulphorhodamine B [SRB] assay, DNA fragmentation by two methods: agarose gel electrophoresis and diphenylamine assays and two lysosomal enzymes: DNase II and cathepsin D. Caspase-3 activity was also determined. Furthermore, we have investigated alterations in the glutathione [GSH] and lipid peroxidation [LPO] level and the activities of antioxidative enzymes, catalase [CAT] and glutathione-s-transferase [GST] as markers of acute inflammation, following oral administration of the three oils and indomethacin in rats treated with carrageerian-induced paw oedema. The results showed that all of these oils by three concentrations: 25, 50 and 100 micro g ml[-1] scavenged H[2]O[2] and DPPH radicals and inhibited the lipid peroxidation process. The iron ions were chelated by the three oils. Moreover, the black seed oil and olive oil exhibited an efficient cytotoxicity against HEPG2, MCF7 and HCTI 16 carcinoma cell lines, while sesame oil did not maintain any cytotoxic property against all tumor cell lines under our experimental conditions. The cytotoxicity was confirmed by increase the activity of caspase-3 activity, DNase II and cathepsin D and DNA fragmentation. Also, the three oils at 50 and 100 mg kg[-1] orally produced significant anti-inflammatory effect after I hours of carrgeenan injection till 4 hours. The three oils alleviated increases in.the activities of CAT and GST enzymes and lipid peroxidation content resulting from oedema. Also they ameliorated depressions in the GSH level caused by carrageenan injection. Our results concluded that these oils can be used as a source of natural antioxidants and dietary supplements to prevent free radical diseases such as cancer, cirrhosis, diabetes and inflammation

Histopathological and biochemical effects of myrrh, pomegranate and black seed on the mosquito culex quinquefasciatus in Saudi Arabia

Medicinal plants contain numerous bioactive compounds that rendered them potential targets for extensive research to produce novel pesticides against mosquitoes and important vectors of infectious diseases in the world. In this study, the histopathological and biochemical effects of three medicinal plants, myrrh, pomegranate and black seed, were tested against the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Saudi Arabia. Fourth instar larvae were treated with aquaeous extract of each plant separately and the changes in various larval tissues and protein profile of the treated larvae were investigated. The results showed that many tissues suffered major changes due to exposure to plant extracts. The observed changes include rupture and disintegration of midgut epithelium with detachment of cellular membranes. There were vacuolization and swelling of some epithelial cells with the appearance of unknown structures. Other cells appeared devoid of nuclear material, which might be due to fragmentation of nuclear DNA/chromosomes, an important sign of apoptotic cells. Other tissues: Malpighian tubules, muscles, nerve ganglla and fat tissue suffered varying degrees of damage, but lesser than the midgut. Protein analysis showed changes in general protein profile of treated larvae compared to normal larvae. Treatment with plant extracts resulted in loss of protein bands of molecular weights of 2.3 KD and bands between 75 and 212 KD. In all treatments, a group of bands of molecular weights between 9 and 71 KD appeared but with variable profiles, which indicates the loss or gain of one or more band compared to the control mosquito profile. These bands might be metabolic products or fractions of the larger protein bands in response to treatment. These results showed that water extracts of myrrh, pomegranate and black seed affected various tissues and protein products of the mosquito at varying degrees and apparent modes of action. These changes will implicate various physiological processes of the mosquito and could interfere with its life cycle and vectorial capacity for disease transmission. Therefore, more research is needed to determine the specific mode of action and molecular targets in different mosquito stages as well as the side effects on non-targets of each plant extract for the production of novel effective and safe mosquitocidal compounds

Bioassay screening of the essential oil and various extracts from 4 spices medicinal plants

Four commonly used spices plants in Iran were evaluated for cytotoxicity effect using Brine Shrimp Lethality [BSL] assay. Essential oils and various extracts of Heracleum persicum, Nigella arvensis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Zingiber officinale were assessed by two methods of disk and solution of BSL. Data were processed in probit-analysis program to estimate LC50 values. All of the tested fractions have exhibited more cytotoxicity in the solution method. Essential oils of H. persicum and C. zeylanicum have shown the most cytotoxicity with LC50 values 0.007 and 0.03 microg/ml respectively. None of aqueous extracts showed significant cytotoxicity. The analysis of the essential oil of H. persicum showed the hexyl butyrate and octyl acetate as the main compounds. These results suggest some limitation for using of these spices in diet. Furthermore, these plants could be considered as a source of cytotoxic compounds which might be studied in more details

Analysis on chemical components of volatile oil and determination of thymoquinone from seed of Nigella glandulifera / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analysis chemical components of volatile oil from the seed of Nigella glandulifera (NG), comparing them with those from the seed of foreign N. sativa (NS) and N. damascene (ND), and to quantify thymoquinone in the volatile oil extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) from the seed of NG.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The volatile oil was extracted by supercritical CO2 extraction (SFE-CO2 ) and HD from the seed of NG and its chemical components was analysed by GC-MS, the relative percentage of components were determined by peak aera normalization method and compare with those of the seed of NS and ND. The content of the thymoquinone in the volatile oil was determined by one point external standard method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In terms of the volatile compounds, p-cymene is the major component of NG and NS, their relative percentage contents are 33.75% and 61.48%, respectively. beta-Elemene is the major component of ND, its relative percentage content is 73.24%. The relative percentage contents of thymoquinone are 3.73% (HD), 3.80% and 0.08% in NG, NS and ND, respectively. Linoleic acid is a major component of volatile oil by SFE-CO2 in NG, but its content of p-cymene is lower. The absolute percentage content of thymoquinone is 1.58% by HD in volatile oil of NG.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are comparatively large differences of volatile components in NG, NS and ND.</p>

Sativa seeds against Schistosoma mansoni different stages

The schistosomicidal properties of Nigella sativaseeds were tested in vitro against Schistosoma mansoni miracidia, cercariae, and adult worms. Results indicate its strong biocidal effects against all stages of the parasite and also showed an inhibitory effect on egg-laying of adult female worms. In the present work we also studied the effects of crushed seeds on some antioxidant enzymes; which have a role in protection of adult worms against host oxidant killing; as well as some enzymes of glucose metabolism; which have a crucial role in the survival of adult worms inside their hosts. The data revealed that the used drug induce an oxidative stress against adult worms which indicated by a decrease in the activities of both antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase and enzymes of glucose metabolism, hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Disturbing of such enzymes of adult worms using N. sativa seeds could in turn render the parasite vulnerable to damage by the host and may play a role in the antischistosomal potency of the used drug.

Effect of different fertilizer on the amino acid fatty acid, and essential oil composition of Nigella Sativa seeds

The effect of different levels of nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P] fertilizers on the amino acid, fatty acid and essential oil composition of Nigella sativa L. seeds were studied. Fertilization at a level of 100 Kg of each [N] and [P]/hectar and 50 Kg [P]/hectar, markedly increased the amino acid composition as well as the thymoquinone content of the essential oil. Treatment with 100 kg [N] and 200 Kg[P]/hectar significant increased the content of 11, 14-eicosadienoic acid in the fixed oil

Studies on chemical constituents in the seeds of Nigella glandulifera / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the chemical constituents in the seeds of Nigella glandulifera.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemical constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column. They were identified and structurally elucidated by means of physio-chemical constants and spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Nine compounds were identified as nigellamose (I), alpha-hederin (II), 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinpyranosyl]-hederagenin (III), sucrose (IV), stearic acid (V), 1-O-hexadecanolenin (VI), beta-sitosterol (VII), daucosterol (VIII) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (IX).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>I, II, III, VI, VIII and IX were obtained from the plant for the first time, and I is a new compound.</p>