Table 1a.

The experimental evidence on anti-allergic effects of Nigella sativa and its constituents

Plant preparations	Dose/route of administration/ treatment period	Study models	Effects	Reference
TQ	3 and 10mg/kg, i.p., for 21 days	OVA-induced allergic rhinitis in rat	Decreased IL-4, IgE, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels and reduced eosinophil infiltration and edema	(Günel et al., 2017 ▶)
TQ	50 and 100mg/kg, i.p., for 5 days	Allergy induced by the synthetic compound 48/80 in rats	Reduced TNF-α and IL-1β in both BALF and lung tissue homogenates and decreased histamine release from RPMCs	(El Aziz et al., 2011a ▶; El Aziz et al., 2011b ▶)
TQ	3mg/kg, i.p., for 5 days	OVA-induced allergy in mice	Reduced IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IgE, OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a levels Increased IFN-γ	(El Gazzar et al., 2006a ▶)
TQ	3mg/kg, i.p., for 5 days	OVA-induced allergy in mice	Decreased IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels and reduced PGD2 production, COX-2 expression, peribronchial eosinophil infiltration and goblet cells hyperplasia	(El Mezayen et al., 2006 ▶)
TQ	3mg/kg, i.p., for 5 days	OVA-induced allergy in mice	Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase Reduced total and differential cell count, and diminished levels of LTB4, LTC4, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10 in BALF	(El Gazzar et al., 2006b ▶)

OVA: ovalbumin, BALF: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, RPMCs: rat peritoneal mast cells preparation, PMN: polymorphonuclear leukocyte, i.p.: intraperitoneal.