title: Nigella sativa Pretreatment in Guinea Pigs Exposed to Cigarette Smoke Modulates In Vitro Tracheal Responsiveness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In previous studies, the bronchodilator and antitussive effects of Nigella sativa have been demonstrated on guinea pigs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, the effect of the hydroethanolic extract of N. sativa on tracheal responsiveness in guinea pigs exposed to cigarette smoke was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups of guinea pig models of COPD were given drinking water alone (COPD group), drinking water containing vitamin C (COPD + VC group), and N. sativa (COPD + NS group). Tracheal responses to methacholine were measured as effective concentration causing 50% of maximum response (EC50 M) in control animals (group C) and three groups of guinea pigs with COPD (n = 7, for all groups). Tracheal responses to 0.1% ovalbumin in comparison to contraction obtained by 10 µM methacholine were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tracheal responsiveness to both methacholine and ovalbumin in guinea pigs with COPD were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.001 for both cases). The tracheal responsiveness in the COPD + VC and the COPD + NS groups to both methacholine and ovalbumin were significantly decreased in comparison to the COPD group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed the preventive effect of hydroethanolic extract of N. sativa on tracheal responsiveness of guinea pig model of COPD, which was as effective as vitamin C.
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran ; Department of Physiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran ; Tuberculosis and Lung Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keyhanmanesh
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nazemiyeh
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Student Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mazouchian
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Student Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bagheri Asl
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Student Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimi Shoar
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis and Lung Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alipour
authors.affiliation: Departmentof Physiology, Medical School and Pharmacological Research Centre of Medical Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boskabady
keywords: Nigella sativa; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Tobacco Products