Effects of Nigella sativa Oil Fractions on Reactive Oxygen Species and Chemokine Expression in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

Background: many previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of N. sativa total oil fractions, neutral lipids (NLs), glycolipids (GLs), phospholipids (PLs), and unsaponifiable (IS) in asthma patients. We therefore tested its effect on airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells by observing its ability to regulate the production of glucocorticoid (GC)-insensitive chemokines in cells treated with TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma, and its antioxidative and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties. Materials and methods: the cytotoxicity of N. sativa oil fractions was assessed using an MTT assay. ASM cells were treated with TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma for 24 h in the presence of different concentrations of N. sativa oil fractions. An ELISA assay was used to determine the effect of N. sativa oil fractions on chemokine production (CCL5, CXCL-10, and CXCL-8). The scavenging effect of N. sativa oil fractions was evaluated on three reactive oxygen species (ROS), O-2 center dot(-), OH center dot, and H2O2. Results: our results show that different N. sativa oil fractions used at 25 and 50 mu g/mL did not affect cell viability. All fractions of N. sativa oil inhibited chemokines in a concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, the total oil fraction showed the most significant effect of chemokine inhibition, and had the highest percentage of ROS scavenging effect. Conclusion: these results suggest that N. sativa oil modulates the proinflammatory actions of human ASM cells by inhibiting the production of GC-insensitive chemokines.

Automated summary

Many previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of N. sativa total oil fractions in asthma patients. In this study, the effect of these oil fractions on airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells was investigated. Results showed that N. sativa oil inhibited the production of chemokines and had a high ROS scavenging effect.