Overview of the preclinical pharmacological properties of Nigella sativa (black seeds): a complementary drug with historical and clinical significance.

Nigella sativa (N. sativa, black seeds; or sometimes known by many other names such as the blessed seed by the Arabs, black cumin in the Holy Bible, black caraway and Kalonji in South Asia) has been traditionally used for many years not only as a food but also as complementary drug. It is the objective of this communication to review the evidence-based pre-clinical pharmacological actions of N. sativa as a basis of its existing and potential new human clinical uses. Primary PubMed literature searches and secondary Medline searches were conducted to define N. sativa pre-clinical pharmacological and toxicological actions using a retrospective narrative review of the published studies. The ground seeds, its oil and its various extracts exhibit very broad pharmacological actions in laboratory studies, which are predictive of human clinical efficacy. In laboratory studies, N. sativa possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-convulsant, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer, anti-hypertensive, anti-asthmatic and anti-cancer activities. Its mode of action is mediated via several mechanisms, which include anti-oxidant, immunomodulating, cytoprotective and an inhibitory effect on some mediators of inflammation. Although the seeds contain many chemical components, thymoquinone and alpha-hederin are proven to be pharmacologically active. Despite N. sativa broad and worldwide pharmacological characterization, only limited non-clinical safety studies were reported. N. sativa has many potentially important therapeutic applications. The black seeds clearly warrant formal preclinical drug development consideration to investigate the pharmacology of its components, to standardize the contents of the dosage forms, to define the methods of the pharmaceutical preparation, to determine its pharmacokinetics characteristics and its safety profile. It is our opinion that N. sativa should be considered for clinical development initially for unmet therapeutic uses, especially in the fields of oncology, neurology, rheumatology, pulmonary medicine, infectious diseases and endocrinology.

Electrodiagnostic evaluation of compressive nerve injuries of the upper extremities.

Electrodiagnostic testing includes electromyography and nerve conduction studies that are physiologic tests used in the diagnosis of peripheral nerve injuries. It is a supplement rather than a replacement for a physical examination. This article reviews the terminology as well as the findings seen and used in electrodiagnostic studies. Common compression nerve injuries including the median, ulnar, radial, axillary, and suprascapular nerves and their electrical findings are reviewed.

Biosorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by natural spider silk.

Aside from its excellent mechanical properties, spider silk (SS) would offer an active surface for heavy metal interaction due to its rich protein structure. The present study describes the potential use of natural (SS) as a sorbent of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Single and multi-species biosorption experiments of heavy metals by natural SS were conducted using batch and column experiments. The biosorption kinetics, in general, was found to follow the second-order rate expression, and the experimental equilibrium biosorption data fitted reasonably well to Freundlich isotherm. From the Freundlich isotherm, the biosorption capacities of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions onto SS were found as 0.20 and 0.007 mmol g⁻¹, respectively. The results showed a decrease in the extent of metal ion uptake with lowering the pH.

A radiotracer study of the adsorption behavior of aqueous Ba(2+) ions on nanoparticles of zero-valent iron.

Recently, iron nanoparticles are increasingly being tested as adsorbents for various types of organic and inorganic pollutants. In this study, nanoparticles of zero-valent iron (NZVI) synthesized under atmospheric conditions were employed for the removal of Ba(2+) ions in a concentration range 10(-3) to 10(-6) M. Throughout the study, (133)Ba was used as a tracer to study the effects of time, concentration, and temperature. The obtained data was analyzed using various kinetic models and adsorption isotherms. Pseudo-second-order kinetics and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model provided the best correlation with the obtained data. Observed thermodynamic parameters showed that the process is exothermic and hence enthalpy-driven.

A characterization study of some aspects of the adsorption of aqueous Co2+ ions on a natural bentonite clay.

The natural bentonite used in this study contained montmorillonite in addition to low cristobalite. The uptake of aqueous Co(2+) ions was investigated as a function of time, concentration, and temperature. In addition, the change in the interlayer space of montmorillonite was analyzed using XRPD, and the distribution of fixed Co(2+) ions on the heterogeneous clay surface was recorded using EDS mapping. The sorbed amount of Co(2+) appeared to closely follow Freundlich isotherm, with the sorption process showing apparent endothermic behavior. The relevance of the apparent DeltaH(o) values is briefly discussed. Analysis of the Co-sorbed bentonite samples using SEM/EDS showed that the montmorillonite fraction in the mineral was more effective in Co(2+) fixation than the cristobalite fraction. XRPD analysis demonstrated that the interlayer space of montmorillonite was slightly modified at the end of sorption.

Modification of a montmorillonite-illite clay using alkaline hydrothermal treatment and its application for the removal of aqueous Cs+ ions.

A montmorillonite-illite clay was modified using alkaline hydrothermal treatment (reflux method) and applied to the removal of aqueous Cs+ ions. The alkaline solutions were prepared by dissolving NaOH in seawater and in distilled water, and the effect of the two alkaline media on the sorption capacities of the modified clay was discussed. The modified materials were characterized using XRD, SEM/EDS, and FTIR. As a result of the modification, the original mineral was partially transformed into a zeolitic material with spherical morphology. The results showed that the modification improved the Cs+ uptake capacity of the starting clay, with the clay modified in distilled water medium demonstrating higher sorption capacity. The sorption data were adequately described using the Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models.

AAS, XRPD, SEM/EDS, and FTIR characterization of Zn2+ retention by calcite, calcite-kaolinite, and calcite-clinoptilolite minerals.

In this study, the sorption behavior of Zn2+ on calcite, kaolinite, and clinoptilolite, in addition to mixtures of calcite with kaolinite and clinoptilolite, was investigated at various loadings and mixture compositions using atomic absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared techniques. According to the obtained results, within the experimental operating conditions, the sorption capacity was enhanced with increasing amount of calcite in both types of mixtures. Under neutral-alkaline pH conditions and high loadings, the order of Zn2+ retention was observed as calcite>clinoptilolite>kaolinite. The experiments on the retention of Zn2+ by pure calcite under conditions of oversaturation showed that the uptake process proceeds via an initial adsorption mechanism (possibly ion-exchange type) followed by a slower mechanism that leads to the overgrowth of the hydrozincite phase, Zn5(OH)6(CO3)2.

Physicochemical characterization of the retardation of aqueous Cs+ ions by natural kaolinite and clinoptilolite minerals.

The aim of this study was to carry out kinetic, thermodynamic, and surface characterization of the sorption of Cs+ ions on natural minerals of kaolinite and clinoptilolite. The results showed that sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The activation energies were 9.5 and 13.9 kJ/mol for Cs+ sorption on kaolinite and clinoptilolite, respectively. Experiments performed at four different initial concentrations of the ion revealed that the percentage sorption of Cs+ on clinoptilolite ranged from 90 to 95, compared to 28 to 40 for the kaolinite case. At the end of a 1 week period, the percentage of Cs+ desorption from clinoptilolite did not exceed 7%, while it amounted to more than 30% in kaolinite, indicating more stable fixation by clinoptilolite. The sorption data were best described using Freundlich and D-R isotherm models. Sorption showed spontaneous and exothermic behavior on both minerals, with deltaH(0) being -6.3 and -11.4 kJ/mol for Cs+ uptake by kaolinite and clinoptilolite, respectively. Expanding the kaolinite interlayer space from 0.71 to 1.12 nm using DMSO intercalation, did not yield a significant enhancement in the sorption capacity of kaolinite, indicating that the surface and edge sites of the clay are more energetically favored. EDS mapping and elemental analysis of the surface of kaolinite and clinoptilolite revealed more intense signals on the surface of the latter with an even distribution of sorbed Cs+ onto the surfaces of both minerals.

ToF-SIMS depth profiling analysis of the uptake of Ba2+ and Co2+ ions by natural kaolinite clay.

The sorption behavior of Ba(2+) and Co(2+) ions on a natural clay sample rich in kaolinite was studied using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Depth profiling at 10-A steps was performed up to a 70-A matrix depth of the clay prior to and following sorption. The results showed that Co(2+) is sorbed in slightly larger quantities than Ba(2+), with significant numbers of ions fixed on the outermost surface of the clay. Depletion of the ions K(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+) from the clay lattice was observed to accompany enrichment with Co(2+) and Ba(2+) ions. The data obtained using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated insignificant structural and morphological changes in the lattice of the clay upon sorption of both Ba(2+) and Co(2+) ions. Analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the average atomic percentage (+/-S.D.) of Ba and Co on kaolinite surface were 0.49 +/- 0.11 and 0.61 +/- 0.19 , respectively, indicating a limited uptake capacity of natural kaolinite for both ions.

Prostaglandins and brain-gut axis.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have well documented physiological and pharmacological actions on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This communication reviews the evidence for peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) physiological actions of PGs in order to determine their role in the brain-gut axis, if any. PGs are widely distributed in nearly all cells peripherally and centrally. Laboratory and clinical evidence indicate that there is a direct relationship between altered GI physiological functions and peripheral PGs biosynthesis. Either local or parenteral administration of natural E-series PGs alters GI physiological functions particularly those relating to mucosal defense. Furthermore, the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX), which are responsible for the PGs biosynthesis, have been localized in the brain as well as peripherally. However, increased levels of PGs in the brain have been associated with pathological processes such as inflammation, pain, fever and addiction. Although PGs have been shown to modulate CNS effects of catecholaminergic, serotoninergic and cholinergic neurons, there is no meaningful information concerning their direct central effect on GI function. The evidence for a clear physiological role of central PGs on the GI tract is not convincing. At this time, we conclude that PGs primarily manifest their activity on the GI tract by peripheral rather than by central mechanisms.

1',1'-Dimethylheptyl-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-11-oic acid: a novel, orally effective cannabinoid with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

1',1'-Dimethylheptyl-Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-11-oic acid (CT-3) is a novel cannabinoid that is under development by Atlantic Pharmaceuticals as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of CT-3 on overt symptom complex (Irwin's test), nociception, gastrointestinal (GI) ulceration, and pharmacological availability after intragastric (i.g.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. Analgesic studies were assessed in the hot-plate (55 degrees C) and the tail clip tests in mice and in the tail clip test in rats. In addition, pharmacological interaction of CT-3 with the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was investigated in rats. In mice, CT-3 decreased spontaneous motor activity and induced dose-dependent, analgesic activity in the tail clip and hot-plate tests, with potency similar to morphine sulfate after i.g. and i.p. administration. However CT-3 showed more prolonged duration of analgesic action than morphine. In rats, CT-3 showed marked analgesia in the tail clip test and had similar i.p. and i.g. median effective dose (ED(50) values; 5 mg/kg). CT-3 was devoid of GI ulceration when administered with DMSO either acutely at doses below 100 mg/kg or chronically at a dosage of 30 mg/kg/day for 5 days. In contrast, indomethacin induced GI ulceration and deaths. The concurrent use of DMSO with CT-3 decreased its analgesic action, increased its adverse central nervous system effects, and induced GI ulceration. The evidence indicates that CT-3 exhibits a large dissociation between its anti-inflammatory/analgesic effects and its ulcerogenic actions. CT-3 warrants clinical development as a novel anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug.