Dr. Weeks’ Comment: Many of my neurologist colleagues are astonished at how beneficial SOUL is for their patients. Here is a glimpse at some of the science explaining why! Scan these abstracts from peer-reviewed scientific literature and you too will scratch your head and mutter “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this amazing drink made from black cumin seed (with thymoquinone) and black raspberry seed and Chardonnay grape seed.
Black Cumin Seed (Thymoquinone) and Parkinson’s Disease
1.
Iran J Pharm Res. 2014 Winter;13(1):227-34.
Neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone, the nigella sativa bioactive compound, in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced hemi-parkinsonian rat model.
Sedaghat R1, Roghani M2, Khalili M
Abstract
Parkinson disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder with progressive degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons for which current treatments afford symptomatic relief with no-prevention of disease progression. Due to the neuroprotective property of the Nigella sativa bioactive compound thymoquinone (TQ), this study was undertaken to evaluate whether TQ could improve behavioral and cellular abnormalities and markers of oxidative stress in an experimental model of early PD in rat. Unilateral intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats were daily pretreated p.o. with TQ at doses of 5 and/or 10 mg/Kg three times at an interval of 24 h. After 1 week, apomorphine caused contralateral rotations, a reduction in the number of neurons on the left side of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) was observed, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite level in midbrain homogenate increased and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) reduced in the 6-OHDA lesion group. TQ pretreatment significantly improved turning behavior, prevented loss of SNC neurons, and lowered level of MDA. These results suggest that TQ could afford neuroprotection against 6-OHDA neurotoxicity that is partly due to the attenuation of lipid peroxidation and this may provide benefits, along with other therapies, in neurodegenerative disorders including PD.
KEYWORDS:
6-Hydroxydopamine, Oxidative stress, Parkinson’s disease, Thymoquinone
PMID: 24734075 [PubMed] PMCID: PMC3985249 Free PMC Article
Black Cumin Seed (Thymoquinone) and Multiple Sclerosis
1.
Spate S, Ramadan H H, Mohamed A.
Biomed Sci Instrum. 2010;46:190-85.
PMID: 20467093 [PubMed – in process]
Select item 19369775
2.
Mohamed A, Waris HM, Ramadan H, Quereshi M, Kalra J.
Biomed Sci Instrum. 2009;45:274-9.
PMID: 19369775 [PubMed – in process]
Select item 15850137
3.
Mohamed A, Afridi DM, Garani O, Tucci M.
Biomed Sci Instrum. 2005;41:388-93.
PMID: 15850137 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Select item 15850135
4.
El-Gouhary I, Mohamed A, Suleiman S, Benghuzzi H.
Biomed Sci Instrum. 2005;41:376-81.
PMID: 15850135 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Select item 12724933
5.
Mohamed A, Shoker A, Bendjelloul F, Mare A, Alzrigh M, Benghuzzi H, Desin T.
Biomed Sci Instrum. 2003;39:440-5.
PMID: 12724933 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Black Cumin Seed (Thymoquinone) and STROKE
1.
Thymoquinone ameliorates lead-induced brain damage in Sprague Dawley rats.
Radad K, Hassanein K, Al-Shraim M, Moldzio R, Rausch WD.
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2014 Jan;66(1):13-7. doi: 10.1016/j.etp.2013.07.002. Epub 2013 Jul 30.
PMID: 23910425 [PubMed – in process]
Select item 21501145
2.
Nemmar A, Al-Salam S, Zia S, Marzouqi F, Al-Dhaheri A, Subramaniyan D, Dhanasekaran S, Yasin J, Ali BH, Kazzam EE.
Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Dec;164(7):1871-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01442.x.
PMID: 21501145 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE] Free PMC Article
Select item 14729430
3.
El-Saleh SC, Al-Sagair OA, Al-Khalaf MI.
Int J Cardiol. 2004 Jan;93(1):19-23.
PMID: 14729430 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
4.
J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2013 Apr;5(2):119-25. doi: 10.4103/0975-7406.111825.
Neuroprotective effects of chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of Nigella sativa seeds in stroke model of rat.
Akhtar M1, Maikiyo AM, Najmi AK, Khanam R, Mujeeb M, Aqil M.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Stroke still remains a challenge for the researchers and scientists for developing ideal drug. Several new drugs are being evaluated showing excellent results in preclinical studies but when tested in clinical trials, they failed. Many herbal drugs in different indigenous system of medicine claim to have beneficial effects but not extensively evaluated for stroke (cerebral ischemia).
AIM:
The present study was undertaken to evaluate chloroform and petroleum ether extract of Nigella sativa seeds administered at a dose of 400 mg/kg, per orally for seven days in middle cerebral artery occluded (MCAO) rats for its neuroprotective role in cerebral ischemia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for two hours followed by reperfusion for 22 hours. After 24 hours, grip strength, locomotor activity tests were performed in different treatment groups of rats. After completing behavioral tests, animals were sacrificed; brains were removed for the measurement of infarct volume followed by the estimation of markers of oxidative stress.
RESULTS:
Both chloroform and petroleum ether extracts-pretreated rats showed improvement in locomotor activity and grip strength, reduced infarct volume when compared with MCAO rats. MCA occlusion resulted in the elevation of levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), while a reduction in the levels of glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase levels were observed. Pre-treatment of both extracts of Nigella sativa showed reduction in TBARS, elevation in glutathione, SOD, and catalase levels when compared with MCAO rats.
CONCLUSION:
The chloroform and petroleum ether extract of Nigella sativa showed the protective effects in cerebral ischemia. The present study confirms the antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory properties of Nigella sativa already reported.
KEYWORDS:
Chloroform, Nigella sativa, cerebral ischemia, neuroprotective effects, petroleum ether extract
Black Cumin Seed (Thymoquinone) and SEIZURE DISORDERS
1.
Shawki M, El Wakeel L, Shatla R, El-Saeed G, Ibrahim S, Badary O.
Epileptic Disord. 2013 Sep;15(3):295-301. doi: 10.1684/epd.2013.0602.
PMID: 23981722 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Select item 21475467
2.
Raza M, Alghasham AA, Alorainy MS, El-Hadiyah TM.
Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2008 Jan;2(1):15-25.
PMID: 21475467 [PubMed] Free PMC Article
Select item 18049435
3.
The effect of Nigella sativa L. (black cumin seed) on intractable pediatric seizures.
Akhondian J, Parsa A, Rakhshande H.
Med Sci Monit. 2007 Dec;13(12):CR555-9.
PMID: 18049435 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Select item 15795687
4.
Hosseinzadeh H, Parvardeh S, Nassiri-Asl M, Mansouri MT.
Med Sci Monit. 2005 Apr;11(4):BR106-10. Epub 2005 Mar 24.
PMID: 15795687 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Select item 14971722
5.
Anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, in mice.
Hosseinzadeh H, Parvardeh S.
Phytomedicine. 2004 Jan;11(1):56-64.
PMID: 14971722 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Dariani S, Baluchnejadmojarad T, Roghani M.
J Mol Neurosci. 2013 Nov;51(3):679-86. doi: 10.1007/s12031-013-0043-3. Epub 2013 Jun 23.
PMID: 23794216 [PubMed – in process]
Select item 21112742
2.
The effect of thymoquinone on intractable pediatric seizures (pilot study).
Akhondian J, Kianifar H, Raoofziaee M, Moayedpour A, Toosi MB, Khajedaluee M.
Epilepsy Res. 2011 Jan;93(1):39-43. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2010.10.010. Epub 2010 Nov 26.
PMID: 21112742 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Select item 21475467
3.
Raza M, Alghasham AA, Alorainy MS, El-Hadiyah TM.
Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2008 Jan;2(1):15-25.
PMID: 21475467 [PubMed] Free PMC Article
Select item 15795687
4.
Hosseinzadeh H, Parvardeh S, Nassiri-Asl M, Mansouri MT.
Med Sci Monit. 2005 Apr;11(4):BR106-10. Epub 2005 Mar 24.
PMID: 15795687 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Select item 14971722
5.
Anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, in mice.
Hosseinzadeh H, Parvardeh S.
Phytomedicine. 2004 Jan;11(1):56-64.
PMID: 14971722 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]