Effect of Black Seeds (Nigella sativa) on Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Markers in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

Abstract N.sativa, a core dietary supplement and food additive in folklore is one of the most broadly studied seed plants in the global nutraceutical sector. Malaria infection impairs the ability of principal cells of the immune system to trigger an efficient inflammatory and immune response. Ninety-six mice weighing (20-25g) were grouped into twelve consisting of eight animals each. The mice were infected with standard inoculum of the strain NK65 P.berghei (chloroquine sensitive) and the percentage parasitemia suppression were evaluated. The individual effect of black seed supplemented diet and its combinatory effect with chloroquine (CQ) were investigated on the glutathione peroxidase(GPx), reduced glutathione(GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), serum immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), and the hematological parameters (haemoglobin, packed cell volume and red blood cell count) in P.berghei infected mice. The inflammatory cytokines; Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin (IL-6 and IL-10) as well as IgG and IgM were assayed in the serum. The mice temperature and behavioural changes were observed. Infected mice treated with the dietary supplementation of black seed with a percentage inclusion (2.5%, 5% and 10%) showed significantly decreased parasitemia levels (p<0.05) compared with the untreated mice. The result demonstrated a significant suppression in the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, CRP, IL-6) levels and a notable elevation in the anti- inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), antioxidant markers as well as the immunoglobulin levels of the P.berghei-infected mice treated with black seed. The study revealed that black seed enhanced host antioxidant status, modulated inflammatory and immune response by regulating some inflammatory cytokines and immunomodulatory mediators.