Volume 17, August 2015, Pages 910–927
Highlights
- •
- Nigella sativa suppresses inflammatory mediators in respiratory disorders.
- •
- Nigella sativa shows immunomodulatory activity in respiratory disorders.
- •
- Nigella sativa increases the action of antioxidant enzymes.
- •
- Nigella sativa shows relaxant effect on tracheal smooth muscle.
- •
- Nigella sativa shows preventive effect in respiratory disorders clinically.
Abstract
Nigella sativa (N. sativa)
is one of the most widely used medicinal plants. It has been used as
food additive, preservative, and an herbal remedy for different diseases
from ancient time. In traditional medicine, many astonishing effects
such as treatment and prevention of many diseases related to the
respiratory, gastrointestinal, immune, and nervous system had been
mentioned for N. sativa. In the last three decades, numerous
research has been done to substantiate such folk properties, identifying
plant-derived natural substances, and understanding their mechanisms of
action in the body. N. sativa improves the action of
antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and
glutathione-S-transferase) and acts as a free radical scavenger. As an
anti-cancer agent, its modulatory activity on molecular targets,
including p53, p73, PTEN, STAT3, PPAR-g, activation of caspases, and
generation of ROS had been demonstrated. As an anti-inflammatory and
immunomodulatory agent, it suppresses inflammatory mediators,
leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and B cell-mediated immune response while
it balances Th1/Th2 ratio and potentiates T cell and natural killer
cell-mediated immune response. We aimed to review literature and
experimental data of scientific research about the basic and clinical
evidence of N. sativa and its constituents on preventive
(anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory) and relieving
(bronchodilatory) effects on obstructive respiratory diseases.
Keywords
- Nigella sativa;
- Obstructive respiratory diseases;
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Antioxidant;
- Immunomodulatory;
- Bronchodilatory
Chemical compounds
- Thymoquinone (PubChem CID: 10281);
- Dithymoquinone or Nigellone (PubChem CID: 398941);
- Thymol (PubChem CID: 6989);
- Carvacrol (PubChem CID: 10364);
- p-Cymene (PubChem CID: 7463);
- 4-Terpineol (PubChem CID: 11230);
- Trans-anethol (PubChem CID: 637563);
- Alpha-pinene (PubChem CID: 6654);
- Alpha-hederin (PubChem CID: 71464054);
- Kaempferol glucoside (PubChem CID: 12358425)
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
