title: Thymoquinone prevents and ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thymoquinone (TQ), an active ingredient of the seed oil extract of Nigella sativa Linn, has previously been shown to possess antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory bioactivity. Whether TQ has any effect on colitis remains controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment with TQ prevents and ameliorates colonic inflammation in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/6 murine colitis was induced by the administration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) (3 % W/V) in the drinking water supplied to the mice for 7 consecutive days. The mice with colitis were treated with 5, 10, or 25 mg/kg TQ orally, and changes in body weight and macroscopic and microscopic colitis scores were examined. In addition, biochemical analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment of mice with TQ prevented and significantly reduced the appearance of diarrhea and body weight loss. These results were associated with amelioration of colitis-related damage, as measured by macroscopic and microscopic colitis scores. In addition, there was a significant reduction in colonic myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels and an increase in glutathione levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that TQ administration can prevent and improve murine DSS-induced colitis. These findings suggest that TQ could serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zirong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mengyao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Xufeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry; D009195:Peroxidase; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016227:Benzoquinones; D010938:Plant Oils; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D009195:Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; C003466:thymoquinone