Özet:

OBJECTIVE: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common allergic disease. Although the present treatment protocols relieve the symptoms, drug studies to obtain better outcomes are still continuing. We aimed to investigate the effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on airway inflammation in a rat model of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Allergic rhinitis was induced in 42 rats by intraperitoneal sensitization and intranasal challenge with Ovalbumin. The animals were divided into six subgroups (n=7/per cage): healthy controls, AR group, AR group treated with corticosteroid (dexamethasone 1 mg/kg; CS+AR), healthy rats that were given only TQ of 10 mg/kg (TQ10), AR group treated with TQ of 3mg/kg (TQ3+AR), AR group treated with TQ of 10 mg/kg (TQ10+AR). Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (Ig-E) levels of serum were measured. Histopathologic changes in nasal mucosa and expression of Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β were evaluated. RESULTS: Thymoquinone has inhibited the production of the IL-4, OVA-specific IgE, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β and also reduced eosinophil infiltration and edema in the nasal mucosa while it has no increased effect on IFN-γ and IL-10. CONCLUSION: We observed that TQ has multiple suppressive effects on allergic response. Thymoquinone may be considered as a supplemental agent in treating of allergic rhinitis.

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