title: Inhibitory effects of topical thymoquinone on corneal neovascularization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thymoquinone, one of the biologically active components of black seed oil, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We aimed to study the effect of thymoquinone on corneal neovascularization in rats and to compare its efficacy with that of triamcinolone acetonide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemical cauterization of the cornea was performed with silver nitrate/potassium nitrate sticks in 40 eyes in 40 rats. An examiner blinded to the experiments scored the intensity of the cauterization. Topical instillation of thymoquinone 0.1%, thymoquinone 0.4%, and triamcinolone acetonide was continued for 7 days. The inhibitory effects of the drugs on corneal neovascularization were tested and compared with each other and with controls with a computer program that evaluates percent areas of cornea covered by neovascularization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The means of percent area of corneal neovascularization in the thymoquinone 0.1%, thymoquinone 0.4%, triamcinolone acetonide, and control groups were 60.1%, 45%, 46%, and 72%, respectively. The inhibitory effect of thymoquinone 0.4% was found to be equal to that of triamcinolone acetonide (P = 0.87). The thymoquinone 0.4% and triamcinolone groups were different from the thymoquinone 0.1% and control groups (P < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between the percent area of corneal neovascularization in the thymoquinone 0.1% group and that of the controls (P < 0.05). The mean burn stimulus intensities were not different among the groups (P = 0.54).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thymoquinone was shown to have an inhibitory effect, comparable with that of triamcinolone, on corneal neovascularization in this rat model. However, thymoquinone decreased corneal neovascularization in a dose-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fatih University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. merdurmus@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdurmus
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yagci
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ibrahim F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Hepsen
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turkmen
authors.forename: Bahri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karadag
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016227:Benzoquinones; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; C003466:thymoquinone