title: The effect of Nigella sativa alone, and in combination with dexamethasone, on tracheal muscle responsiveness and lung inflammation in sulfur mustard exposed guinea pigs.
abstract: ETHNOMEDICAL RELEVANCE: The anti-inflammatory activity of both systemic and local administrations of essential oil from Nigella sativa L. has been shown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Therefore, the effect of Nigella sativa on tracheal responsiveness (TR) and lung inflammation of sulfur mustard (SM) exposed guinea pigs was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Guinea pigs were exposed to diluent solution (control group), inhaled SM (SME group), SME treated with Nigella sativa (SME+N), SME treated with dexamethasone (SME+D) and SME treated with both drugs (SME+N+D), (n=7 for each group). TR to methacholine, total white blood cell (WBC) and differential WBC count of lung lavage, and serum cytokines were measured 14 days post-exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The values of TR, eosinophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, interleukine-4 (IL-4) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) of SME group were significantly higher than those of controls (p<0.05 to p<0.001). The TR in SME+N, SME+D and SME+N+D was significantly lower compared to that of SME group (p<0.01 for all cases). The percentage of eosinophil in SME+D, and the percentage of monocyte in SME+N+D (p<0.05 to p<0.01) were significantly lower than those in SME group. The neutrophil number was decreased in SME+N and SME+N+D groups compared to SME animals (p<0.05 to p<0.01). IL-4 levels in serum of SME+N (p<0.01), SME+D (p<0.05), SME+N+D (p<0.01) and IFN-γ in SME+N (p<0.05) were greater than those in SME animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed a preventive effect of Nigella sativa on TR and lung inflammation of SM exposed guinea pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Postal Code 9177948564, Mashhad, Iran. mhboskabady@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boskabady
authors.forename: Nassim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.forename: Sediqa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amery
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khakzad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D009151:Mustard Gas