title: Bioactivity-guided identification to delineate the immunomodulatory effects of methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seed on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the immunomodulatory effects of Nigella sativa (NS) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on a Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and a non-PHA stimulated proliferation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells isolated from human PBMCs which were treated with methanolic extract of NS for 48 h into two separate environments (PHA and non-PHA stimulated). Flow cytometry (for T helper/inducer cells and natural killer cells) and real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a few selected proinflammatory gene expressions were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Extracts from NS had an immunostimulating effect on non-PHA-stimulated proliferation of human PBMCs. In contrast, immunosuppressive activity was observed on PHA-stimulated proliferation of human PBMCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This in vitro study revealed the effects of NS plant extract on nonspecifific cellular immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cancer Biology Research Lab, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia, alialshatwi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alshatwi