Effects of Nigella sativa Extract on Markers of Cerebral Angiogenesis after Global Ischemia of Brain in Rats

The Janus face of HIF-1α in ischemic stroke and the possible associated pathways

Stroke is the most devastating disease, causing paralysis and eventually death. Many clinical and experimental trials have been done in search of a new safe and efficient medicine; nevertheless, scientists have yet to discover successful remedies that are also free of adverse effects. This is owing to the variability in intensity, localization, medication routes, and each patient's immune system reaction. HIF-1α represents the modern tool employed to treat stroke diseases due to its functions: downstream genes such as glucose metabolism, angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, and cell survival. Its role can be achieved via two downstream EPO and VEGF strongly related to apoptosis and antioxidant processes. Recently, scientists paid more attention to drugs dealing with the HIF-1 pathway. This review focuses on medicines used for ischemia treatment and their potential HIF-1α pathways. Furthermore, we discussed the interaction between HIF-1α and other biological pathways such as oxidative stress; however, a spotlight has been focused on certain potential signalling contributed to the HIF-1α pathway. HIF-1α is an essential regulator of oxygen balance within cells which affects and controls the expression of thousands of genes related to sustaining homeostasis as oxygen levels fluctuate. HIF-1α's role in ischemic stroke strongly depends on the duration and severity of brain damage after onset. HIF-1α remains difficult to investigate, particularly in ischemic stroke, due to alterations in the acute and chronic phases of the disease, as well as discrepancies between the penumbra and ischemic core. This review emphasizes these contrasts and analyzes the future of this intriguing and demanding field.

Potential role of Nigella Sativa and its Constituent (Thymoquinone) in Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is one of the major causes of global mortality, which puts great demands on health systems and social welfare. Ischemic stroke is a complex pathological process involving a series of mechanisms such as ROS accumulation, Ca2+ overload, inflammation, and apoptosis. The lack of effective and widely applicable pharmacological treatments for ischemic stroke patients has led scientists to find new treatments. The use of herbal medicine, as an alternative or complementary therapy, is increasing worldwide. For centuries, our ancestors had known the remedial nature of Nigella sativa (Family Ranunculaceae) and used it in various ways, either as medicine or as food. Nowadays, N. sativa is generally utilized as a therapeutic plant all over the world. Most of the therapeutic properties of this plant are attributed to the presence of thymoquinone which is the major biological component of the essential oil. The present review describes the pharmacotherapeutic potential of N. sativa in ischemic stroke that has been carried out by various researchers. Existing literature highlights the protective effects of N. sativa as well as thymoquinone in ischemia stroke via different mechanisms including anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, neuroprotective, and vascular protective effects. These properties make N. sativa and thymoquinone promising candidates for developing potential agents for the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation increases brain oxidative stress after transient global cerebral ischemia in rats

Pupurpose of the study: Oxidative stress has been reported to be an important mechanism for brain damage following ischemic stroke. Recently, the involvement of cytosolic receptors capable of forming protein complexes called inflammasomes has been demonstrated to perpetuate oxidative stress. Herein, we report the effect of NLRP3 inhibition with MCC950 on brain oxidative stress in an animal model of transient global cerebral ischemia.Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats received an intracerebroventricularly (icv) injection of MCC950 (140 ng/kg) or saline and were subjected to sham procedure or ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Twenty-four hours after I/R, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, nitrite/nitrate (N/N) concentration, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls formation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were determined in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum and striatum. Results: After I/R, MPO activity increased in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum and N/N concentration elevated in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cortex, while MCC950 decreased this level except in hippocampus. After I/R, lipid peroxidation enhanced in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum and increased the oxidative protein damage in both structures and hippocampus. MCC950 decreased lipid peroxidation in the prefrontal cortex and decreased protein oxidative damage in all brain structures except in the striatum. SOD activity decreased in the cortex after I/R and MCC950 reestablished these levels. CAT activity decreased in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum after I/R and MCC950 reestablished these levels in the prefrontal cortex.Conclusion: Our data provide novel demonstration that inhibiting NLRP3 activation with MCC950 reduces brain oxidative damage after cerebral I/R in rats.

Nigella sativa and its nano-mediated approach toward management of neurodegenerative disorders: A review

Nigella sativa L., also known as black seed or black cumin, is a plant that has been used for centuries. In the past, this flowering plant was used as a food preservative and medicinal herb. A vital component of Nigella sativa, thymoquinone (TQ), plays a significant therapeutic role in the management of most diseases, including cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders. Neurodegenerative disorders are primarily caused by neurotransmitter hypoactivity, particularly insufficient serotonin activity. It has been discovered that many medicinal herbs and their active compounds have therapeutic value. Black cumin seeds have been used to heal ailments and its history traces back to ancient times such as ancient Babylonia. They can be used applied to alleviate edema, hair loss, and bruising, and consumd to treat stomach issues. It is one of the most feasible and effective medicinal plants. The use of nanoformulations based on Nigella sativa and TQ to treat neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) has yielded promising outcomes. Customized administration of nanoparticle (NP) systems and nanomedicine are two of the many options for drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) that are attracting increasing interest. Delivering a therapeutic and diagnostic substance to a particular location is the core target of NPs. Because of their distinct cell uptake and trafficking mechanisms, NPs can reduce the amount that accumulates in undesirable organs. The focus of the current review is on recent studies on the various neuroprotective properties of Nigella sativa as well as nanoformulations for NDs and the brain's uptake of NPs. The review summarizes the In vivo, In vitro, and In silico studies on the protective effects of black cumin against neurodegenerative disorders.

From kitchen to clinic: Pharmacotherapeutic potential of common spices in Indian cooking in age-related neurological disorders

Aging is described as an advanced time-related collection of changes that may negatively affect with the risk of several diseases or death. Aging is a main factor of several age-related neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia), stroke, neuroinflammation, neurotoxicity, brain tumors, oxidative stress, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Currently available medications for age-related neurological disorders may lead to several side effects, such as headache, diarrhea, nausea, gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, dyskinesia, and hallucinosis. These days, studies on plant efficacy in traditional medicine are being conducted because herbal medicine is affordable, safe, and culturally acceptable and easily accessible. The Indian traditional medicine system called Ayurveda uses several herbs and medicinal plants to treat various disorders including neurological disorders. This review aims to summarize the data on the neuroprotective potential of the following common Indian spices widely used in Ayurveda: cumin (Cuminum cyminum (L.), Apiaceae), black cumin (Nigella sativa (L.), Ranunculaceae), black pepper (Piper nigrum (L.), Piperaceae), curry leaf tree (Murraya koenigii (L.), Spreng Rutaceae), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum (L.), Fabaceae), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Apiaceae), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton, Zingiberaceae), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry, Myrtaceae), and coriander (Coriandrum sativum (L.), Apiaceae) in age-related neurological disorders.

Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Health Benefits, Molecular Pharmacology, and Safety

Mounting evidence support the potential benefits of functional foods or nutraceuticals for human health and diseases. Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), a highly valued nutraceutical herb with a wide array of health benefits, has attracted growing interest from health-conscious individuals, the scientific community, and pharmaceutical industries. The pleiotropic pharmacological effects of black cumin, and its main bioactive component thymoquinone (TQ), have been manifested by their ability to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation, and to promote immunity, cell survival, and energy metabolism, which underlie diverse health benefits, including protection against metabolic, cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, renal, respiratory, reproductive, and neurological disorders, cancer, and so on. Furthermore, black cumin acts as an antidote, mitigating various toxicities and drug-induced side effects. Despite significant advances in pharmacological benefits, this miracle herb and its active components are still far from their clinical application. This review begins with highlighting the research trends in black cumin and revisiting phytochemical profiles. Subsequently, pharmacological attributes and health benefits of black cumin and TQ are critically reviewed. We overview molecular pharmacology to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of health benefits. Issues related to pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions, drug delivery, and safety are also addressed. Identifying knowledge gaps, our current effort will direct future research to advance potential applications of black cumin and TQ in health and diseases.

Stanniocalcin-1 ameliorates cerebral ischemia by decrease oxidative stress and blood brain barrier permeability

Blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and oxidative stress have been reported to be important mechanisms for brain damage following ischemic stroke and stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1), a neuroprotective protein, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress properties. Herein, we report the effect of STC-1 on BBB permeability and brain oxidative stress after stroke in an animal model. Male Wistar received an intracerebroventricularly injection of human recombinant STC-1 (100 ng/kg) or saline and were subjected to sham procedure or global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model. Six and 24 h after I/R, neurological evaluation was performed; at 24 h brain water content was evaluated in the total brain, and BBB permeability, nitrite/nitrate (N/N) concentration, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls formation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were determined in the hippocampus, cortex, prefrontal cortex, striatum and cerebellum. Rats exhibited neurological deficit at 6 and 24 h after I/R and STC-1 reduction at 24 h. After I/R there were an increase of brain water content, BBB permeability in the hippocampus, cortex and pre-frontal cortex and N/N in the hippocampus, and STC-1 decreased this level only in the hippocampus. STC-1 decreased lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus, cortex and prefrontal cortex and protein oxidative damage in the hippocampus and cortex. SOD activity decreased in the hippocampus, cortex and prefrontal cortex after I/R and STC-1 reestablished these levels in the hippocampus and cortex. CAT activity decreased only in the hippocampus and cortex and STC-1 increased the CAT activity in the hippocampus. Our data provide the first experimental demonstration that STC-1 reduced brain dysfunction associated with cerebral I/R in rats, by decreasing BBB permeability and oxidative stress parameters.

Dual Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicines on Angiogenesis in Cancer and Ischemic Stroke Treatments: Role of HIF-1 Network

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)–induced angiogenesis has been involved in numerous pathological conditions, and it may be harmful or beneficial depending on the types of diseases. Exploration on angiogenesis has sparked hopes in providing novel therapeutic approaches on multiple diseases with high mortality rates, such as cancer and ischemic stroke. The HIF-1 pathway is considered to be a major regulator of angiogenesis. HIF-1 seems to be involved in the vascular formation process by synergistic correlations with other proangiogenic factors in cancer and cerebrovascular disease. The regulation of HIF-1–dependent angiogenesis is related to the modulation of HIF-1 bioactivity by regulating HIF-1α transcription or protein translation, HIF-1α DNA binding, HIF-1α and HIF-1α dimerization, and HIF-1 degradation. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines have a long history of clinical use in both cancer and stroke treatments in Asia. Growing evidence has demonstrated potential proangiogenic benefits of Chinese herbal medicines in ischemic stroke, whereas tumor angiogenesis could be inhibited by the active components in Chinese herbal medicines. The objective of this review is to provide comprehensive insight on the effects of Chinese herbal medicines on angiogenesis by regulating HIF-1 pathways in both cancer and ischemic stroke.

Protective effect of troxerutin and cerebroprotein hydrolysate injection on cerebral ischemia through inhibition of oxidative stress and promotion of angiogenesis in rats

Brain ischemia, including cerebral ischemia and cerebrovascular ischemia, leads to poor oxygen supply or cerebral hypoxia, and causes brain tissue death or cerebral infarction/ischemic stroke. The troxerutin and cerebroprotein hydrolysate injection (TCHI), is widely applied in China to improve blood supply in ischemic brain tissues and to enhance neuroprotective effects in clinical practice. However, the benefits and detailed underlying mechanism elaborating the effectiveness of TCHI in cerebrovascular diseases require further investigation. Therefore, in the present study, experimental in vivo and in vitro models were employed to investigate the potential mechanisms of TCHI on cerebral ischemic injury. The results demonstrated that TCHI increased the lactate dehydrogenase levels in the brain homogenate and conversely decreased lactic acid levels. TCHI was further observed to significantly increase superoxide dismutase activity and decrease malondialdehyde levels in ischemic brain tissues. In addition, TCHI significantly induced vascular maturation processes, including proliferation, adhesion, migration and tube formation in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Additionally, TCHI significantly stimulated microvessel formation in the rat aortic ring and chick chorioallantoic membrane assays. Taken together, these results provided strong evidence that TCHI stimulated angiogenesis at multiple steps, and indicated that TCHI attenuated cerebral ischemic damage through the amelioration of oxidative stress and promotion of angiogenesis.