The Effect of Thymoquinone on Experimental Model of Allergic Conjunctivitis

Abstract

Objective: Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis is challenging and new treatment modalities are required. In this study; the effect of Thymoquinone (TK), a natural derivative of Nigella Sativa with its anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties, was investigated on an experimental rat model of allergic conjunctivitis (AK). 

Methods: Forty-eight female Wistar Albino rats aging between 4-6 months were included in this study. Rats were divided into 6 groups as following: control, AK, AK + Dexamethasone, 10 mg/kg TK, AK + 3 mg/kg TK and AK + 10 mg/kg TK. To induce an AK rat model, Ovalbumin (0.3 mg) and Al(OH)₃ (30 mg/ml) in 1 ml of %0.9 NaCl were given 7 times intraperitoneally (i.p.) to each rat every other day. Ovalbumin drops (2%) were installed everyday between 15^th-21^th days directly on conjunctiva. TK was applied i.p. with above mentioned doses. Tissue Mast Cell Counts (MCC) and histopathological - immunohistochemical staining results were statistically evaluated.

Results: Systemic administration of Thymoquinone alone did not demonstrate any detrimental effect on eye tissues. MCC of Ovallbumin sensitized AK group was significantly higher than the control cases (p<0.001). Similar to dexamethasone treated group (p<0.001), MCC of TK treated group was lower than AK groups’, but the difference was not statistically significant. As a common finding in all treatment groups weak focal TGF-β staining and negative TNF-α staining have been determined.

Conclusion: Administration of Ovalbumin using aforementioned way creates a proper AK model. TK is a safe non-allergic herbal product and may have a supplementary role in AK treatment by its anti-inflammatory effect but unfortunately, it has not reached remarkable anti-allergic effect.

Keywords

• Allergic Conjunctivitis model,Nigella Sativa,Thymoquinone

Deneysel Alerjik Konjonktivit Modelinde Çörek Otu Bileşenlerinden Timokinon'un Etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Alerjik konjonktivit tedavisi güç bir hastalıktır; yeni tedavi seçeneklerine ihtiyaç vardır. Bu çalışmada anti-inflamatuar ve anti-alerjik özellikleri olan ve çörek otundan (Nigella Sativa) elde edilen timokinonun (TK) sıçan alerjik konjonktivit (AK) modeli üzerindeki etkisinin histolojik yöntemlerle araştırılması amaçlanmıştır.

Yöntem: Çalışmaya 48 adet 4-6 aylık yetişkin Wistar Albino dişi sıçan dahil edildi. Sıçanlar; kontrol, AK, AK+Deksametazon, 10 mg/kg TK, AK+3 mg/kg TK ve AK+10 mg/kg TK şeklinde rastgele 6 gruba ayrıldı. AK geliştirmek için, 30 mg/ml adjuvan Al(OH)₃  ve 0,3 mg Ovalbumin, serum fizyolojik içinde her sıçana 1 mL intraperitoneal (i.p.) olarak gün aşırı 7 kez uygulandı. Ardı sıra 15-21. günlerde doğrudan konjonktiva üzerine serum fizyolojik içinde %2'lik Ovalbumin 7 kez damlatıldı. Ait olduğu gruba göre TK ilgili dozlarda i.p. olarak uygulandı. Konjonktiva dokusu mast hücre sayıları (MHS) ile histopatolojik ve immünohistokimyasal MCT, TGFβ ve TNFα boyama sonuçları istatistiksel olarak değerlendirildi.

Bulgular: Timokinonun tek başına sistemik uygulanması konjonktiva histolojisinde değişikliğe neden olmadı. Ovalbüminle duyarlı hale getirilen AK grubu kontrol grubuyla karşılaştırıldığında, konjonktiva epitelindeki MHS istatistiksel olarak anlamlı artış gösterdi (p<0,001). Deksametazon tedavi grubunda (p<0,001) olduğu gibi; TK tedavi gruplarında da MHS, AK grubuna göre daha düşük bulundu ancak bu fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi. TGF-β ile negatif boyanma, TNF-α ile zayıf fokal boyanma tedavi gruplarının ortak bulgusu olarak saptandı. 

Sonuç: Bu çalışmadaki doz ve sürelerle uygulanan ovalbümin, deneysel çalışmalar için uygun bir AK modeli oluşturmaktadır. Timokinonun uygulanan dozlarda yan etki oluşturmadığı ve AK gelişen durumlarda da kısmen anti-inflamatuar yönü ile tedaviye destek olabileceği, ancak istenen anti-alerjik etkiyi göstermediği düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

• Alerjik konjuncktivit modeli,çörek otu,timokinon

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