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Abstract Title:

Thymoquinone-induced relaxation of isolated rat pulmonary artery.

Abstract Source:

J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Feb 3 ;127(2):210-4. Epub 2009 Dec 2. PMID: 19961917

Abstract Author(s):

Ghada M Suddek

Article Affiliation:

Ghada M Suddek

Abstract:

AIM OF THE STUDY: The effect of thymoquinone (TQ), the main constituent of the volatile oil of black seed (Nigella sativa L. family Ranunculaceae), on the isolated rat pulmonary arterial rings was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated rat pulmonary arterial rings were precontracted with phenylephrine and concentration-response curves to TQ were constructed. The effects of different receptors antagonists or enzyme inhibitors were examined.

RESULTS: TQ caused a concentration-dependent decrease in the tension of the pulmonary arterial rings precontracted by phenylephrine. The effects of TQ were not influenced by pretreatment of the rings with propranolol (a non-selective beta-blocker), atropine (a non-selective blocker for muscarinic receptors), theophylline (an adenosine receptor antagonist), indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor), L-NAME (a NO synthase inhibitor), methylene blue (an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase) and nifedipine (a Ca(2+) channel blocker). The effects of TQ were significantly potentiated by bosentan (an ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist). The effects of TQ were slightly abolished by pretreatment of the rings with glibenclamide (a non-selective blocker of ATP-sensitive K+ channels). TQ totally abolished the pressor effects of serotonin and phenylephrine on the isolated rat pulmonary arterial rings.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that TQ-induced relaxation of the precontracted pulmonary artery is probably mediated, at least in part, by activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels and possibly by non-competitive blocking of serotonin, alpha1 and endothelin receptors.

Study Type : Animal Study

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