title: Effect of Alpha-Hederin, the active constituent of Nigella sativa, on miRNA-126, IL-13 mRNA levels and inflammation of lungs in ovalbumin-sensitized male rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In previous studies the therapeutic effects of Nigella sativa have been demonstrated on asthmatic animals. In the present study, the preventive effect of single dose of alpha-hederin, its active constituent, has been evaluated on lung inflammation and some inflammatory mediators in lungs of ovalbumin sensitized rat in order to elicit its mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty rats were randomly grouped in 4 groups; control (C), sensitized (S), sensitized pretreated groups with thymoquinone (3 mg/kg i.p., S+TQ) and alpha-hederin (0.02 mg/kg i.p., S+AH). Levels of IL-13 mRNA and miRNA-126 in lung tissue and its pathological changes in each group were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated levels of miRNA-126, IL-13 mRNA and pathological changes were observed in the sensitized group compared to the control group (p<0.001 to p<0.05). All of these factors were significantly reduced in S+TQ and S+AH groups in comparison to S group (p<0.001 to p<0.05). Although alpha-hederin decreased the levels of miRNA-126, IL-13 mRNA and pathological changes in comparison with thymoquinone, the results were statistically not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that alpha-hederin had preventive effect on sensitized rats like thymoquinone. It may intervene in miRNA-126 expression, which consequently could interfere with IL-13 secretion pathway leading to a reduction in inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keyhanmanesh
authors.affiliation: Department of molecular medicine, School of advanced medical sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Mahdi
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khamaneh
authors.affiliation: Department of basic sciences, College of veterinary medicine, Tabriz branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi Saadatlou
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saadat
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis and lung diseases research center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
keywords: Alpha-hederin; Asthma; IL-13 mRNA; MiRNA-126; Ovalbumin; Thymoquinone