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. 2019 Mar 2;11(2):122–128. doi: 10.2478/intox-2018-0008

Antidotal effects of thymoquinone against neurotoxic agents

Ali Rajabpour Sanati 1, Tahereh Farkhondeh 2, Saeed Samarghandian 3,✉
PMCID: PMC6829686  PMID: 31719783

Abstract

Several plants which contain the active component thymoquinone (TQ) have been traditionally used in herbal medicine to treat various diseases. Several studies indicated the protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents. The present study was aimed to highlight the protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents. For this reason, the literature from 1998 to 2017 regarding the protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents and their involvement mechanisms has been studied. The present review suggests the protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents in experimental models. More clinical trial studies are however needed to confirm the antidotal effects of TQ in human intoxication.

Keywords: thymoquinone, neurotoxic agents, antioxidant, antidote

ABBREVIATION

ACR

Acrylamide

ALT

Alanine transaminase

CAT

Catalase

DM

Diabetes mellitus

FAS

Fetal alcohol syndrome

GSH

Glutathione

GSH-Px

Glutathione peroxidase

GST

Glutathione S-transferase

LDH

Lactate dehydrogenase

LPS

Lipopolysaccharide

MDA

Malondialdehyde

Met

Metformin

mRNA

Messenger ribonucleic acid

NE

Norepinephrine

NMDA

N-methyl-D-aspartate

NO

Nitric oxide

PA

Passive avoidance

PTZ

Pentylenetetrazole

ROS

Reactive oxygen species

SOD

Superoxide dismutase

STZ

Streptozotocin

TQ

Thymoquinone

Introduction

Plants as an important source of active compounds have been used in traditional medicines (Samarghandian et al., 2017; Samarghandian et al., 2017). Nigella sativa (of the family ranunculaceae) and its seeds are commonly called black cumin, fennel flower, or nutmeg flower (Ahmad et al., 2013). It is considered a medicinal herb with some religious usage, called the ‘remedy for all diseases except death’ (Prophetic hadith) and Habatul Baraka “the Blessed Seed” (Mohammad et al., 2013). The black cumin oil consists of active components such as ocopherols, phytosterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, thymoquinone, ρ-cymene, carvacrol, t-anethole and 4-terpineol. Thymoquinone (2-isopropyl-5-methylbenzo-1, 4-quinone) (TQ) has been found in many medicinal plants, as e.g. in several genera of the Lamiaceae family (Monarda) and the Cupressaceae family (Juniperus) (Farkhondeh et al., 2017). TQ is the main ingredient of the Nigella sativa, which is effective for the treatment of various diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, coronary artery diseases, respiratory failures, and urinary system failures (Ahmad et al., 2013). TQ has been indicated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, anti-microbial, anti-mutagenic and anti-genotoxic activities (Asaduzzaman Khan et al., 2017). TQ may be considered a therapeutic agent for prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the therapeutic effects of TQ against toxic agents remains nascent in the literature. The present review aimed to critically review studies from 1998 to 2017 regarding the protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents.

Safety study

The LD50 value of TQ was found to be 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) in the rat. I.p. injection at doses of 4, 8, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg TQ in mice has no effect on biochemical indices, such as serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (Mansour et al., 2001). However, i.p. injection of TQ higher than 50 mg/kg was lethal in mice (Mansour et al., 2001). Several toxicological studies indicated that oral administration of TQ in the range of 10–100 mg/kg has no toxic or lethal effects in mice (Kanter, 2008; Kanter, 2011a). The maximum tolerated dose of TQ was 22.5 mg/kg in male and 15 mg/kg in female rats when injected i.p., whereas in both male and female rats it was 250 mg/kg after oral administration (Kanter, 2011b). The difference in toxicity response between i.p. injection and oral ingestion of TQ can be related to the complete absorption of TQ into the systemic circulation after i.p. injection, whereas with oral administration, TQ is biotransformed in the gastrointestinal tract or metabolized in the liver.

Methods

Online literature resources were checked using different search engines such as Medline, PubMed, Iran Medex, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 1998 to 2017 to identify articles, editorials, and reviews about antidotal effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents. TQ, neurotoxicity, and neurotoxic agents were key words used to search the literature.

Protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents (Table 1)

Table 1.

Antidotal effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents.

Dose of TQ Toxic agents Experimental study Mechanism Ref
20 mg/kg Lead acetate Rat Prevented neurotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress Radad et al., 2014
10 mg/kg Morphine Mice Ameliorated the development of morphine tolerance and dependence via decreasing the brain glutamate level, oxidative stress, inducible NO synthase expression, and NO overproduction Abdel-Zaher et al., 2013
10, 15, 25 and 35 μM Ethanol Primary rat cortical neurons Prevented neurotoxicity by decreasing elevated [Ca2+]c levels, decreasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the mitochondrial of neurons, inhibition of ROS generation Ullah et al., 2012
50 mg/kg Toluene Rat Prevented neurotoxicity by decreasing the immunoreactivity of degenerating neurons and apoptosis Kanter, 2008 and 2011
0–100 μM Glutamate Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells Prevented neurotoxicity by decreasing the ROS generation, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic cascade Al Mamun et al., 2015
2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg Acrylamide Rat Prevented neurotoxicity by inhibiting lipid peroxidation in cerebral cortex resulted in improved severe gait abnormalities Mehri et al., 2014
10 mg/kg Streptozotocin Rat Prevented neuropathy diabetes via decreasing NO and MDA , increasing GSH, CAT and GST, and also decreasing norepinephrine Hamdy & Taha, 2009
10 mg/kg Lipopolysaccharide Rat Prevented neurotoxicity by decreasing hippocampal IL-6 and TNF-α level and increasing SOD and CAT activities. Bargi et al., 2017
5, 10 and 20 mg/kg Pentylenetetrazole Mice Prevented neurotoxicity by decreasing glutamate, oxidative stress and NO production Abdel-Zaher et al., 2017
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Lead

Lead (Pb2+) is one of the most hazardous heavy metals that threatens human health (Samarghandian et al., 2013). Lead causes damage to the brain by disrupting ionic balance in neuronal cells, modifying normal brain function, interrupting neural signal transmission between neurons and inducing neurodegeneration and progressive neuronal cell death (Lidsky & Schneider, 2003). Chronic occupational exposure to low levels of lead may be a risk factor for some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases (Coon et al., 2006; Wu et al., 2008). Chelation therapy is the most effective treatment for lead poisoning (Flora et al., 2012). Natural antioxidants have been used to improve lead toxicity in experimental studies (Reckziegel et al., 2011). Lead acetate exposure [0.5 g/l (500 ppm)] was found to cause degeneration of hippocampal and cerebellar neurons, endothelial lining of brain blood vessels with perivascular cuffing of mononuclear cells consistent to lymphocytes and chromatolysis and neuronal and also congestion of choroid plexus blood vessels, ischemic brain infarction, microglial reaction, neuronophagia, and axonal demyelination. TQ treatment (20 mg/kg in corn oil (0.5 ml/rat)) improved the lead-induced brain lesions in rats due to its antioxidant properties (Radad et al., 2014), suggesting that TQ attenuated brain oxidative stress induced by lead. However more studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms of such protection of TQ against lead neurotoxicity.

Morphine

Morphine was indicated to induce oxidative stress in brain (Guzmán et al., 2006; Özmen et al., 2007; Ibi et al., 2011). Reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutamate release, and nitric oxide (NO) have important roles in morphine tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms (Sepulveda et al., 1998; Özek et al., 2003; Wen et al., 2004; Mori et al., 2007; 2011). Activation of the ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors plays a crucial role in the development of morphine analgesic tolerance and dependence (Bajo et al., 2006; Murray et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2007). Over-activation of the glutamatergic system increases ROS production (Alekseenko et al., 2012). The protective effects of TQ against morphine induced tolerance and dependence have been indicated (Abdel-Zaher et al., 2013). Repeated administration of TQ prevented the development of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice, decreased brain malondialdehyde (MDA) and NO levels, increased brain intracellular glutathione (GSH) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. TQ had no effect on the increased glutamate level in the brain induced by repeated administration of morphine. However, TQ inhibited morphine tolerance and dependence-induced increase in inducible NO synthase but not in neuronal NO synthase mRNA expression in mouse brain. It was indicated that TQ ameliorated the development of morphine tolerance and dependence via decreasing the brain glutamate level, oxidative stress, inducible NO synthase expression, and NO overproduction. The study suggested that the protective effect of TQ is very likely due to its strong antioxidant activities.

Ethanol

Ethanol exposure during brain development might cause neurodevelopmental defects referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) (Jones et al., 1973). Ethanol disturbs brain development by the dysregulation of neurogenesis, cell migration and cell survival (Miller, 1986; 1996; Naseer et al., 2010). Ullah et al. (2012) suggested that TQ and metformin (Met) have neuroprotective effects against ethanol-induced apoptosis via regulating calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis, mitochondrial function, cytochrome-c release, caspase activation and the Bcl-2 family of proteins. ROS generation is an important mediator of ethanol-induced apoptotic cell death (Ramachandran et al., 2003; Young et al., 2005; Antonio et al., 2008). Exposure to ethanol accompanied with Met (10 mM), TQ (10, 15, 25 and 35 μM) or Met plus TQ inhibited ROS generation, which triggers apoptotic cell death pathways during early development of rat cortical and hippocampal neurons. TQ plus Met decreased the levels of Ca2+ induced by ethanol in the brain. Administration of TQ plus Met to rats reduced ethanol-induced apoptosis in cortical and hippocampal neurons by decreasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Met plus TQ prevented cell death in primary rat cortical neurons induced by ethanol due to its antioxidant effect that maintains mitochondrial integrity. The mechanism of TQ neuroprotection was similar to Met including stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing Ca2+ overload and inhibition of apoptotic cascades.

Toluene

Toluene is an industrial aromatic solvent usually found in gasoline, paints, resins, cosmetic products, lacquers, inks, nail polish, paint thinners, and adhesives (Kurtzman et al., 2001). Acute intoxication with toluene causes euphoria and disinhibition followed by hallucinations, tinnitus, ataxia, confusion, nausea and vomiting, an increased tendency to sleep, frequent headaches, and eye irritation in humans (Flanagan et al., 1989; Echeverria et al., 1991; Evans & Balster, 1991). Brain magnetic resonance imaging indicated cerebral and hippocampal atrophy with a loss in brain volume in toluene/solvent abusers (Flanagan et al., 1989; Echeverria et al., 1991; Evans & Balster, 1991; Yamanouch et al., 1995; Kamran& Bakshi, 1998; Deleu & Hanssens, 2000). Toluene causes CNS depressant effects such as psychomotor impairment (Hester et al., 2011), excitation, inhibition of locomotor activity (Shiotsuka et al., 2000), and loss of righting reflex and sedation (Conti et al., 2012). Furthermore, peripheral nerve dysfunction has been observed after toluene exposure (Hester et al., 2011). I.p. injection of toluene disturbed the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the brain (Greenberg et al., 1997; Zabedah et al., 2001). It is suggested that increased lipid peroxidation and apoptosis with reduced antioxidant content in the brain are the important mechanisms involved in the neurotoxicity of toluene. The protective effect of TQ against neurodegeneration in the hippocampus after chronic toluene (3,000 ppm inhalation) exposure in rats has been shown (Kanter, 2008). TQ (50 mg/kg, p.o) treatment was found to decrease the immunoreactivity of degenerating neurons after chronic exposure to toluene. TQ treatment decreased the number of apoptotic neurons and prevented the deterioration of the hippocampal neuron, as well as memory and learning disabilities in animal models. TQ also improved morphological alteration in the hippocampus of rats after chronic exposure to toluene by ameliorating apoptosis. (Kanter, 2011) evaluated the protective effects of TQ on the neuronal injury in the frontal cortex of rats after chronic exposure to toluene (3,000 ppm inhalation). Chronic exposure to toluene caused severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasm, slightly dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, and swollen mitochondria with degenerated cristae and nuclear membrane breakdown with chromatin disorganization in neurons of the frontal cortex. TQ treatment (50mg/kg p.o) was reported to ameliorate the severity of degenerative changes in the cytoplasm and especially in the cell nucleus of rats exposed to toluene. TQ treatment significantly decreased the immunoreactivity of degenerating neurons and the number of the apoptotic neurons (TUNEL positive neurons). The study also confirmed that TQ treatment improved morphologic neurodegeneration in frontal cortex tissues of rats exposed to toluene by modulating apoptotic pathways.

Glutamate

(Al Mamun et al., 2015) investigated the protective effects of TQ against glutamate-induced (8 mM) cell death in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. The findings indicated that TQ (0–100 μM) treatment had protective effects against glutamate induced viability loss, ROS generation, mitochondrial dysfunction and increased the apoptotic cascade via decreasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as caspase-9 expression. The study suggested that TQ protected against glutamate-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y neurons by inhibiting ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction and intrinsic apoptotic cascade.

Acrylamide

Acrylamide (ACR) is a neurotoxic agent that target both the central and peripheral nervous system. ACR can lead to neurotoxicity characterized by ataxia, skeletal muscle weakness and body weight loss (Lopachin, 2005; Zhu et al., 2008). Various mechanisms are responsible for neurotoxicity induced by ACR including disruption of presynaptic nitric oxide (NO) signaling, nerve-terminal degeneration, axonal degeneration, increment of lipid peroxidation, reduction of antioxidant capacity of the nervous system and induction of apoptosis signaling. The effects of TQ on ACR-induced (50 mg/kg/day i.p.) neurotoxicity on rats have been investigated (Mehri et al., 2014). TQ (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited lipid peroxidation in cerebral cortex and improved the severe gait abnormalities in animals. A significant decrease in the number of apoptotic neurons was observed after TQ treatment in rats exposed to ACR. TQ treatment also ameliorated morphologic changes in the frontal cortex of rats exposed to ACR. The protective effects of TQ against ACR-induced toxicity may be due to its antioxidant effects (Mehri et al., 2014).

Streptozotocin

Neuropathy is one of the main complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) with ROS involved in its pathogenesis (Gaweł et al., 2003). The effects of TQ on brain function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced (60 mg/kg i.p.i) diabetes model have been investigated (Hamdy & Taha, 2009). It was suggested that TQ prevented the development of diabetes-mediated complications via decreasing the levels of NO and MDA with increasing the levels of GSH, catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes. The levels of norepinephrine (NE) in the brain of diabetic rats decreased after TQ treatment (10 mg/kg p.o). Correlation analysis indicated that correction of the monoamine levels in the TQ treated diabetic rats was related to the increase in the levels of GST in these animals. The findings suggested that TQ protected the brain against STZ-induced diabetes by modulating oxidative stress.

Lipopolysaccharide

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria that is used in research for the evaluation of LPS structure, metabolism, immunology, toxicity, physiology, and biosynthesis (Wang & Quinn, 2010). It has also been used to induce inflammation in animal models. Inflammation has been considered a major mechanism involved in the disruption of learning and memory (Chesnokova et al., 2016; Wolf et al., 2016). Inflammation induced by LPS resulted in releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducing ROS production (Valero et al., 2014; Song et al., 2016). It has been suggested that natural antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties may be effective against memory impairment. It has been reported that TQ improved learning and memory impairments induced by LPS (1 mg/kg i.p.) in rats (Bargi et al., 2017). The protective effects of TQ on memory function has been evaluated using water maze test.

The findings indicated that TQ treatment (2, 5, 10 mg/kg i.p.) decreased the time to find the platform and improved remembered location of the platform in rats. The protective effects of TQ on learning and memory task was also indicated in passive avoidance (PA) test, which was presented by a longer delay for entering to the dark room after the shock. TQ also increased the time spent in the light, while decreased the time spent in the dark compartment where they have previously received a shock. TQ decreased the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CAT activities in the hippocampus of rats. The study suggested antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of TQ against learning and memory impairments induced by LPS.

Pentylenetetrazole

Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) is a drug used as a circulatory and respiratory stimulant; however, side-effects such as epilepsy were difficult to avoid (Dhir, 2012). Cognitive diseases are a group of mental health disorders that affect learning, memory, perception, and problem solving, and include amnesia, dementia, and delirium. It was confirmed that overproduction of ROS and RNS in the brain are involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairments (Qu et al., 2012; Chindo et al., 2015; Jain et al., 2015; Singh& Kumar, 2015). PTZ-kindling is a known animal model which simulates epilepsy (Hassanzadeh et al., 2014; Kaur et al., 2015). One study indicated that administration of TQ (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited PTZ-induced (35 mg/kg i.p) kindling and cognitive impairment in mice. According to the results of the study, TQ ameliorated PTZ-induced kindling in mice via decreasing the levels of glutamate, oxidative stress and NO production in the brain (Abdel-Zaher et al., 2017).

Conclusion

The term “neurotoxicity” pointed to damage to the nervous system induced by exposure to natural or chemical toxic agents (Adewale et al., 2015). These toxic agents may modify the nervous system function in ways that can destroy the neurons (Adewale et al., 2015).

In the present study, several studies from 1998 to 2017 have been reviewed to identify the protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents. Based on the present findings, TQ acts as an antidote in neurotoxicity induced by toxic agents. Lead, ethanol, toluene, glutamate, ACR, LPS and STZ are some examples of chemical agents against which TQ could protect the brain. TQ showed protective effects against some chemical drugs such as morphine and PTZ which have organ toxicities, particularly in overdose.

The above mentioned agents are risk factor for causing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, learning and memory deficiency, epilepsy, etc. Inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis are responsible for antidotal effects of TQ (Figure 1). Oxidative stress is recognized as a main mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety disorders, depression, etc. (Salim, 2016). The present review indicated that TQ prevented CNS damage induced by lead, morphine, ethanol, glutamate, ACR, STZ, LPS and PTZ via modulating the oxidant-antioxidant system. TQ could balance between oxidant-antioxidant system via enhancing antioxidant contents and decreasing free radical production. Additionally, the strong antioxidant effects of TQ may be related to its free radical-scavenging activity (Badary et al., 2003).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents.

Neuronal apoptosis has an important role in the developing brain and also in neurodegenerative diseases (Esen et al., 2017). However, there are main differences in the mechanisms by which apoptosis is initiated. Apaf-1 (apoptotic protease-activating factor 1), proteins of the Bcl-2 and caspase families are the key molecular components of apoptosis in neurons (Udhayabanu et al., 2017). Neutrophils modulate neuronal apoptosis via activating main protein kinase cascades including phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Similarly, abnormal protein structures such as amyloid fibrils activate the apoptosis pathways in Alzheimer’s disease (Yan et al., 2017). The present study observed that ethanol, toluene, glutamate and ACR caused neuronal apoptosis by elevating intracellular Ca2+concentration and disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential. Activation of the caspase families might be the key factor in the neurodegenerative diseases induced by toxic agents. Selective caspase inhibition might be an effective approach against neurotoxic agents. The present review also confirmed that TQ prevented neuronal injuries by modulating the activation of caspase families.

Inflammation is recognized as a major effective factor against acute and chronic CNS diseases. Inflammatory mediators such as complement and adhesion molecules, cyclooxygenase enzymes, and cytokines are elevated in neurodegenerative disease. Inflammation may have beneficial and also detrimental effects in the CNS, especially in repair and recovery. Several anti-inflammatory targets have been triggered for CNS disorders treatment. It was observed that TQ prevented learning and memory problems induced by LPS via decreasing hippocampal IL-6 and TNF-α level. In conclusion, the present review confirmed the protective effects of TQ against neurotoxic agents in experimental models, however more clinical trials should be done to confirm the antidotal effects of TQ in human.

Authors’ contributions

ARS provided most of the reference and drafted the first version of the paper, designed the table in the paper, SS designed the study and did the overall editing of the paper, TF helped with the design of the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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