Dr. Weeks’ Comment: Many people have told me that SOUL, a drink made from 3 seeds (black cumin seed, black raspberry seed and Chardonnay grape seed) seems to help reduce frequency and severity of seizures and allows them to use less anti-seizure medications. In order to better understand this information, I studied the literature on black cumin seed (an potent anti-inflammatory) to see what other properties it offers. Note below that recent peer-reviewed scientific literature does support the anti-seizure experiences people report. Read on about this amazing seed and order SOUL to enjoy its benefits
1.
J Mol Neurosci. 2013 Nov;51(3):679-86. doi: 10.1007/s12031-013-0043-3. Epub 2013 Jun 23.
Dariani S, Baluchnejadmojarad T, Roghani M.
Source
Department Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a rather common and difficult-to-treat variant of epilepsy. Nearly one third of people with epilepsy do not respond effectively to currently available anticonvulsants. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ), the main constituent of black seed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, in the intrahippocampal kainate model of TLE in rat. Following kainate injection, seizure activity was observed that was significantly diminished by TQ pretreatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg, p.o. Intrahippocampal kainate also increased malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite, and nitrate levels and decreased activity of superoxide dismutase and TQ only significantly attenuated MDA. In addition, intrahippocampal kainate caused a significant reduction of neurons in CA1, CA3 and the hilar regions, and TQ significantly attenuated these changes. Timm histochemistry showed a marked mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) in the dentate gyrus of kainate-lesioned rats, and TQ significantly lowered MFS intensity. Meanwhile, a number of reactive astrocytes (astrogliosis) increased significantly in the kainate group, and TQ pretreatment significantly decreased it.
These data suggest that TQ pretreatment could attenuate seizure activity and lipid peroxidation, lower hippocampal neuronal loss and MFS, and mitigate astrogliosis in kainate model of TLE.
PMID: 23794216 [PubMed – in process]
2.
Epilepsy Res. 2011 Jan;93(1):39-43. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2010.10.010. Epub 2010 Nov 26.
The effect of thymoquinone on intractable pediatric seizures (pilot study).
Akhondian J, Kianifar H, Raoofziaee M, Moayedpour A, Toosi MB, Khajedaluee M.
Source
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Department of pediatric neurology, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran. Akhondian@mums.ac.ir
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
despite administration of numerous combinations of epileptic drugs, nearly 15% of childhood seizures are resistant to treatment and it is still a problem in pediatric practice. In traditional medicine, Nigella sativa was known to have anticonvulsant effects. Recent studies also have shown its anticonvulsant effects. Most of the properties of N. sativa or its extracts are mainly attributed to thymoquinone. It has been shown that thymoquinone has several therapeutic effects and no evidence of toxicity or side effects is reported.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
in this pilot, double-blinded crossover clinical trial study on children with refractory epilepsy, thymoquinone with dose of 1mg/kg was administered as an adjunctive therapy and its effects on frequency of seizures were compared with those of a placebo. Twenty-two patients entered in the study. They were assigned in two groups and received either thymoquinone or placebo for a period of four weeks, and then during the two weeks of wash out period, they received only their pre-existing anti-epileptic drugs; then, after cross-overing, they received thymoquinone or placebo for a period of four weeks again. During these periods their effects on seizure frequency were investigated.
RESULTS:
the reduction of frequency of seizures at the end of first period in comparison with the same period before the study demonstrated a significant difference between two groups (thymoquinone and placebo) (P=0.04). Also reduction of frequency of seizure has shown significant difference between two groups at the end of second period in comparison with end of first period (P=0.02). The parental satisfaction showed significant difference between the two groups at the end of the first period (P=0.03).
CONCLUSION:
it can be concluded that thymoquinone has anti-epileptic effects in children with refractory seizures.
2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21112742 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances
3.
Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2008 Jan;2(1):15-25.
Raza M, Alghasham AA, Alorainy MS, El-Hadiyah TM.
Source
College of Medicine, Qassim University.
Abstract
This study investigated antiepileptic effects of the main constituents of Nigella sativa (NS) seed (i.e. aqueous extract (AE), fixed oil (FO), volatile oil (VO)) and the main components of its VO (i.e. thymoquinone, α-pinene and p-cymene) using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced convulsions. The potential of these constituents to induce minimal neurological deficit (MND) was also evaluated by using chimney test.Except for the FO, all of the NS seed constituents protected mice effectively against PTZ-induced convulsions. The activity of the VO in this model maybe attributed mainly to its content of thymoquinone and p-cymene and to a lesser extent, α-pinene. VO and its component p-cymene effectively suppressed convulsions induced by MES. The contents of p-cymene present in the effective dose of the VO maybe partially responsible for its anti-seizure effects. All of the NS seed constituents induced varying degrees of MND in the chimney test. MND induced by VO may pertain to its contents of thymoquinone (63%), p-cymene (23%) and α-pinene (<14%). Protective indices of p-cymene and thymoquinone were closer to one, but only in PTZ model. Exploration on the role of receptors suggests that picrotoxin and bicuculline-sensitive GABA receptors, most probably GABAA receptors, mediate an increase in GABAergic response. In the part dealing with the interaction of valproate with thymoquinone, it can be mentioned that thymoquinone increased the potency of valproate in both PTZ and MES models.
KEYWORDS:
Anticonvulsant, Maximal electroshock seizure, Nigella sativa, Pentylenetetrazole, Potentiation, Valproate
PMID: 21475467 [PubMed] PMCID: PMC3068708 Free PMC Article
4.
Med Sci Monit. 2005 Apr;11(4):BR106-10. Epub 2005 Mar 24.
Hosseinzadeh H, Parvardeh S, Nassiri-Asl M, Mansouri MT.
Source
Department of Pharmacodynamics & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. hosseinzadehh@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Recently we investigated some neuropharmacological aspects of thymoquinone, such as anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, and hypnotic effects, as well as its effect on motor coordination and locomotor activity. In this study, we evaluated the effect and mechanism(s) of the action of thymoquinone more precisely via intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection.
MATERIAL/METHODS:
The anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, were investigated using the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model. The animals were placed individually in plastic boxes and observed immediately after PTZ injection for a period of 30 min. The latency to and the duration of tonic-clonic seizures were recorded, as well as the percentages of protection against the incidence of seizure and mortality.
RESULTS:
In PTZ-induced epileptic seizures, the i.c.v. injection of thymoquinone at doses of 200 and 400 microM prolonged the time until onset and reduced the duration of tonic-clonic seizures. The protective effect of thymoquinone against lethality was 45% and 50% in the respective doses. In this study, flumazenil (1 nM, i.c.v.) reversed the anticonvulsant activity of thymoquinone. Also, pretreatment with naloxone (10 microM, i.c.v.) antagonized the prolongation of tonic-clonic seizure latency as well as the reduction in seizure duration induced by thymoquinone (200 microM, i.c.v.).
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicate that thymoquinone may have anticonvulsant activity, probably through an opioid receptor-mediated increase in GABAergic tone.
PMID: 15795687 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
5.
Phytomedicine. 2004 Jan;11(1):56-64.
Anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, in mice.
Source
Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran. hosseinzadehh@yahoo.com
Abstract
The anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, were investigated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure models. We also studied the effect of thymoquinone on pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, locomotor activity, and motor coordination. In PTZ-induced seizure, the intraperitoneally injection of thymoquinone with doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, prolonged the onset of seizures and reduced the duration of myoclonic seizures. The protective effect of thymoquinone against mortality was 71.4% and 100% in the mentioned doses, respectively. In MES model, thymoquinone failed to reduce the duration of seizure, whereas exhibited a complete protection against mortality. In PTZ model, flumazenil (10 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of benzodiazepine (BZD) site in the GABAA-BZD receptor complex, inhibited the prolongation of seizure latency, but did not show any effect on the duration of myoclonic seizures. Also, pretreatment with naloxone (0.1 and 03 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the prolongation of myoclonic seizure latency and antagonized the reduction of myoclonic seizure duration induced by thymoquinone (40 and 80 mg/kg) in the PTZ model. Moreover, thymoquinone (40 and 80 mg/kg) did not have any hypnosis effect in the pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, but impaired the motor coordination and reduced the locomotor activity. These results indicate that thymoquinone may have anticonvulsant activity in the petit mal epilepsy probably through an opioid receptor-mediated increase in GABAergic tone.