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Thymoquinone Decreases Macrophage Cell Viability and Function
Author(s) -
Surber Kirk,
Tucci Michelle,
Benghuzzi Ham,
Cameron Joseph A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.762.27
Subject(s) - thymoquinone , nitric oxide , chemistry , viability assay , glutathione , pharmacology , macrophage , nitric oxide synthase , cell , biochemistry , antioxidant , biology , in vitro , enzyme , organic chemistry
Thymoquinone has been established as the major component of the oil extracted from Nigella saliva plant seeds, which is a frequently used herbal medicine. Thymoquinone has been shown to have anti‐inflammatory properties. The objective of the present study was to determine the immunomodulatory role of thymoquinone (TQ) regarding its effect on the production of nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages. Under certain conditions, macrophages and certain other cells can produce high concentrations of NO from its precursor L‐arginine via inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway. Macrophage cells administered 5 μM, 10μM and 50 μM of TQ were evaluated for cell number, cellular glutathione content, cellular membrane damage, and cellular nitric oxide after periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours. Following 24 and 48 hours of TQ administration there were no significant differences in cell numbers, cellular glutathione content, or cellular membrane damage between the control and treatment groups. By 72 hours there was a dose dependent decrease in cell numbers. As the dose increased there was a significant loss in cell numbers. There was a corresponding increase in NO as the dose of TQ increased. This information is important in understanding the potential therapeutic effects of TQ. Supported in part by NIGMS‐NIH Grant R25 GM50117.