Analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of Nigella orientalis L. seeds fixed oil: Pharmacological potentials and molecular mechanisms

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 1372 - 1385
• Main Authors: Ait Eldjoudi, Djedjiga, Ruiz‐Fernandez, Clara, González‐Rodriguez, María, Ait Atmane, Sihem, Cordero‐Barreal, Alfonso, Farrag, Yousof, Pino, Jesus, Sineiro, Jorge, Lago, Francisca, Conde‐Aranda, Javier, Khettal, Bachra, Gualillo, Oreste
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.03.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Acetic acid; analgesic activity; Analgesics; Analgesics - pharmacology; Analgesics - therapeutic use; Anti-inflammatory agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; antiinflammatory; Carrageenan; Carrageenan - adverse effects; Cell viability; Edema; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - drug therapy; Erythrocytes; Evaluation; Gene expression; In vivo methods and tests; Inflammation; Inflammation - metabolism; Kinases; lipopolysaccharide (LPS); Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Molecular modelling; Nigella; Nigella orientalis; Nitric oxide; Oils & fats; Pain perception; Pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Prostaglandins; Protein kinase; Proteins; RAW 264.7 cells; Seeds; Seeds - metabolism; signaling pathways; Xylene; lipopolysaccharide (LPS); analgesic activity; signaling pathways; antiinflammatory; Nigella orientalis; RAW 264.7 cells
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7400

Nigella species have been widely used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiinflammatory and analgesic potentials of Nigella orientalis L. seeds fixed oil (NOO). The acetic acid writhing test and the formaldehyde‐induced licking paw were performed to assess the analgesic activity of the oil. The antiinflammatory activity was first evaluated in vitro by the erythrocyte membrane stabilization then in vivo by xylene‐ and carrageenan‐induced ear and paw edema, respectively. To further understand the molecular mechanism of action of the Nigella extract, lipopolysaccharide‐activated RAW 264.7 macrophages were used. Nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reaction and cell viability by MTT assay. The gene and protein expression of inflammatory mediators were assessed by RT‐PCR and western blot, respectively. NOO exerted a potent analgesic effect in in vivo models of writhing test and induced edema. The analyzed molecular mechanisms revealed a role for NO and prostaglandins as molecules mediating the pharmacological effects of the extract through a mechanism involving nuclear factor‐κB and mitogen‐activated protein kinases. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the fixed oil of N. orientalis has strong antinociceptive and antiinflammatory properties and might be a promising agent for the treatment of certain inflammation‐related diseases.