title: The effects of Nigella sativa on sickness behavior induced by lipopolysaccharide in male Wistar rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuroimmune factors contribute on the pathogenesis of sickness behaviors. Nigella sativa (NS) has anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects. In the present study, the effect of NS hydro-alcoholic extract on sickness behavior induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into five groups (n=10 in each): (1) control (saline), (2) LPS (1 mg/kg, administered two hours before behavioral tests), (3-5) LPS-Nigella sativa 100 , 200 and 400 mg/kg (LPS-NS 100, LPS-NS 200 and LPS-NS 400, respectively). Open- field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In OF, LPS reduced the peripheral crossing, peripheral distance, total crossing and total distance compared to control (p<0.01- p<0.001). The central crossing, central distance and central time in LPS-NS 100, LPS-NS200 and LPS-NS 400 groups were higher than LPS (p<0.01- p<0.001). In EPM, LPS decreased the open arm entries, open arm time and closed arm entries while increased the closed time compared to control (p<0.001). Pretreatment by NS extract reversed the effects of LPS (p<0.05- p<0.001). In FST, LPS increased the immobility time while, decreased the climbing and active times compared to control (p<0.05- p<0.001). In LPS-NS 100, LPS-NS 200 and LPS-NS 400 groups the immobility time was less while, the active and climbing times were more than those of LPS (p<0.05- p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract of NS reduced the LPS-induced sickness behaviors in rats. Further investigations are required for better understanding the responsible compound (s) and the underlying mechanism(s).
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Norouzi
authors.affiliation: Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abareshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran.
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anaeigoudari
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Naser
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Shafei
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gholamnezhad
authors.affiliation: Mashhad Technical Faculty, Technical and Vocational University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeedjalali
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohebbati
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
keywords: Lipopolysaccharide; Nigella Sativa; Rat; Sickness behavior