Comparative evaluation of anti-inflammatory properties of thymoquinone and curcumin using an asthmatic murine model

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 11; no. 12; pp. 2232 - 2236
• Main Authors: Ammar, El-Sayed M., Gameil, Nariman M., Shawky, Noha M., Nader, Manar A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.12.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Airway inflammation; Animals; Anti-Asthmatic Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Asthma - drug therapy; Benzoquinones - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Curcumin; Curcumin - therapeutic use; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Lung - chemistry; Lung - drug effects; Lung - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - analysis; Ovalbumin; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumology; Thymoquinone; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; Ovalbumin; Curcumin; Mice; Airway inflammation; Thymoquinone; Animal model; Respiratory system; Respiratory tract; Polyphenol; Bronchus disease; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Lung disease; Evaluation; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Respiratory disease; Rodentia; Antiinflammatory agent; Inflammation; Asthma; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Phenols; Comparative study
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2011.10.013

This study was designed to compare the inhibitory effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and curcumin (CMN) on the biological changes associating asthma. TQ appeared to exhibit greater inhibitory effects on the aggregation of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and in lung tissues. We also measured the effects of the two agents on serum IgE and the changes in the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Serum IgE was significantly decreased by TQ and CMN with TQ being more potent. Also, TQ showed superior inhibitory effects on iNOS and TGF-β1. Meanwhile, CMN was more potent in inhibiting mRNA expression of TNF-α. These results suggest that TQ is more potent in inhibiting the inflammatory changes associating asthma. On the other hand, CMN was a less potent inhibitor of all measured parameters, despite its superior inhibitory effect on TNF-α mRNA levels. ► This study aimed to compare the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and curcumin (CMN) in asthmatic mice. ► From our study TQ and CMN can antagonize airway inflammation in variable degree. ► TQ is more potent inhibitor than CMN on the different explored parameters.