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Abstract
Thymoquinone, the main active ingredient of the volatile oil of N.
sativa seed poses many beneficial anti-oxidant effects. Oxidative stress has
been implicated in the pathogenesis of both atherosclerosis and CsA-induced
toxicity; two factors that participate in the development of CAN.
In this work we aim to study the therapeutic effects of TQ in
minimizing atherogenesis and CsA-toxicity in the AHR model.
A number of 36 New Zealand white female rabbits we divided into 5
groups; Group I, control; Group II, 1% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks; Group
III, 1% cholesterol diet + TQ (10 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks; Group IV, 1%
cholesterol diet + CsA (25 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks; Group V, 1%
cholesterol diet + TQ (10 mg/kg/day) + CsA (25 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks.
Blood samples were collected after 8 weeks for measurement of serum lipids
(TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio) and oxidative stress
parameters (MDA and protein carbonyl). Liver, kidney and aortic tissue
specimens was taken for assessment of tissue oxidative stress and toxic
effects of TQ and/or CsA and aortic atherosclerosis.
The high-cholesterol diet in group II increased the serum lipids,
oxidative stress parameters and induced atherosclerosis and fatty liver. TQ
and the high cholesterol diet in group III significantly reduced the oxidative
stress parameters in serum and tissues and decreased the atherosclerosis by
40% and improved fatty liver. CsA and high-cholesterol diet in group IV
increased serum, aortic and kidney oxidative stress parameters and
atherosclerosis severity compared to Groups II. It also induced ischemic
glomerular changes and interstitial fibrosis in the kidney tissues. TQ in group V, reduced aortic atherosclerosis by 52% compared to Group IV. It
also minimized the CsA induced changes in the kidney.