J Appl Biomed 21:73-79, 2023 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2023.006

In vitro study of Nigella sativa and thymoquinone activity on endothelial activation and monocyte adhesion

Al'Aina Yuhainis Firus Khan¹, Fahmi Mohtar², Thuhairah Abdul Rahman^{1, 3, 4}, Suhaila Abdul Muid^{1, 5}, Gabriele Ruth Anisah Froemming^{1, 6}, Hapizah Nawawi^{1, 3, *}

¹ Universiti Teknologi MARA, Institute for Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Sungai Buloh, Malaysia

² Universiti Teknologi MARA, Centre for Pathology Diagnostic and Research Laboratories (CPDRL), Sungai Buloh, Malaysia

³ Universiti Teknologi MARA, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia

⁴ Universiti Teknologi MARA, Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute (iPROMISE), Puncak Alam, Malaysia

⁵ Universiti Teknologi MARA, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia

⁶ Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

Introduction: Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the bioactive compounds in Nigella sativa (NS). Also known as black seeds/cumin, it has been postulated to possess anti-atherogenic properties. However, research on the effects of NS oil (NSO) and TQ on atherogenesis remain scarce. The aim of this study is to determine gene and protein expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and Endothelial-eukocyte adhesion molecule (E-selectin) in Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (HCAECs).

Methods: HCAECs were stimulated for 24 hours (h) with 200 µg/ml of Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and different concentrations of NSO (55, 110, 220, 440 µg/ml) or TQ (4.5, 9.0, 18.0, 36.0 µm). The effects of NSO and TQ on gene and protein expressions were measured using multiplex gene assay and ELISA assay, respectively. Rose Bengal assay was used to analyse monocyte binding activity.

Results: NSO and TQ significantly reduced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene and protein expressions. TQ showed significant reduction activity of the biomarkers in dose dependent manner. HCAECs pre-treated with NSO and TQ for 24 h significantly lowered monocytes adherence compared to non-treated HCAECs.

Conclusions: NSO and TQ supplementation have anti-atherogenic properties and inhibit monocytes' adherence to HCAECs via down-regulation of ICAM-1 expression. NSO could potentially be incorporated in standard treatment regimens to prevent atherosclerosis and its related complications.

Keywords: Anti-atherogenic; Endothelial activation biomarkers; Monocytes binding thymoquinone; Nigella sativa

Grants and funding:

This study was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) [Grant code: 600-RMI/ST/FRGS 5/3/Fst (49/2011)] awarded to the corresponding author, HN. The funders had no involvement in the study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; the writing of the report; or the decision to submit the article for publication.

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.

Received: April 22, 2022; Revised: March 28, 2023; Accepted: April 4, 2023; Prepublished online: May 4, 2023; Published: June 27, 2023  Show citation