title: Effects of Nigella sativa Extract on Markers of Cerebral Angiogenesis after Global Ischemia of Brain in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduction of permanent or transient cerebral blood flow may lead to some structural and functional changes of the brain, causing high mortality and morbidity. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa (NS) on markers of cerebral angiogenesis in rats induced by global brain ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two male Wistar rats (250 ± 20 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups: group 1, control group receiving only normal saline; group 2, sham group undergoing surgery and stroke induction without treatment; and groups 3 and 4 treated with 10 and 20 mg/kg NS, respectively, after induction of stroke. Global ischemia was induced by ligation of the right carotid artery for 20 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the results of this study, brain edema and infarct volume were significantly decreased in the group treated with 20 mg/kg NS compared with the group treated with 10 mg/kg NS (P < .05). Global ischemia caused a significant reduction in gene expression of vasoactive endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in the sham group compared with the control group (P < .05), but NS groups, in led to a significant increase in gene expression of VEGF and HIF compared with the sham group (P < .05). In addition, the activity level of matrix metallopeptidase-9 was decreased among NS groups compared with the control group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of NS extract among rats with brain ischemia is associated with increase of VEGF and HIF as angiogenic markers and inhibition of matrix metallopeptidase-9 activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Koroush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soleimannejad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatefi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khataminia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hafezi Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. Electronic address: masoud_1241@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Khairollah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asadollahi
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D010936:Plant Extracts; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; C572337:Mmp9 protein, rat
keywords: HIF; Nigella sativa; VEGF; cerebral ischemia; matrix metalloproteinase-9