Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic properties of Nigella sativa

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2004-05, Vol.18 (5), p.395-398
• Main Authors: Islam, S.N, Begum, P, Ahsan, T, Huque, S, Ahsan, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line, Tumor - drug effects; cytotoxicity; Fibroblasts - drug effects; functional foods; General pharmacology; Humans; immunosuppressive agents; Immunosuppressive Agents - administration & dosage; Immunosuppressive Agents - pharmacology; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; immunosuppressive cytotoxic agent; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; Nigella sativa; nutraceutical; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Plant Oils - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; seed oils; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - drug effects
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1449

In this study the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds (NSVO) was investigated for its immunomodulating and cytotoxic properties. A rat model was designed to examine the effect of NSVO on selected immune components. Long‐Evans rats were challenged with a specific antigen (typhoid TH) and treated with NSVO; and the changes produced in their serum antibody titre along with the splenocytes and peripheral immune cells were analysed. Antibody titre for the experimental animal was found to be 1280 as compared to the 2560 in the control rats. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in splenocytes and neutrophils counts, but a rise in peripheral lymphocytes and monocytes in the experimental animals. To test the cytotoxicity of NSVO, a panel of five human cancer cell lines and a fibroblast line was used. The MTT assay was employed to estimate the cell mortality. Vinblastine sulphate and mitomycin C were used as the positive control. LC50 values for NSVO were 155.02 ± 10.4, 185.77 ± 2.9, 120.40 ± 20.5, 384.53 ± 12.1 and 286.83 ± 23.3 µg/ml respectively against the SCL, SCL‐6, SCL‐37′6, NUGC‐4 cancer lines and 3T6 fibroblast line. Results indicate that the NSVO could be considered as a potential immunosuppressive cytotoxic agent. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.