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. 2018 Dec 27;48(6):281-287.
doi: 10.4274/tjo.50146.

Effects of Topical Thymoquinone in an Experimental Dry Eye Model

Tolga Kocatürk  1 , Erol Erkan  2 , İbrahim Meteoğlu  3 , Mehmet Ekici  4 , Aslıhan Karul Büyüköztürk  5 , İrfan Yavaşoğlu  6 , Harun Çakmak  1 , Volkan Dayanır  7 , Muharrem Balkaya  4
Affiliations

Effects of Topical Thymoquinone in an Experimental Dry Eye Model

Tolga Kocatürk et al. Turk J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Objectives: To comparatively evaluate the effects of thymoquinone (TQ), the biologically active main component of volatile oil derived from Nigella sativa seeds, in an experimental dry eye model.

Materials and methods: A total of 36 BALB/c mice 10 weeks of age were used in the study. The mice were divided into 6 groups of 6 mice. Two groups were negative and positive controls, and the other 4 groups were treated with balanced salt solution, fluorometholone (FML), TQ, or vehicle (Tween80). After 1 week of treatment, the mice were killed and the eyes removed for histopathologic examination and cytokine analysis. Interleukin (IL)-1α tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and lactoferrin levels in the conjunctival tissue were measured by multiplex immunobead assay. The presence of inflammatory cells in ocular tissue samples were investigated by hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Inflammatory T cells containing CXT receptor in the conjunctiva were determined by flow cytometry.

Results: FLML and TQ groups had less inflammatory cell density and more goblet cells compared to the other groups. High levels of IL-1α and IL-2 were found in the TQ group.

Conclusion: TQ treatment was associated with reduced inflammation in pathological examination, but did not significant lower cytokine levels.

Keywords: Black seed oil; dry eye; thymoquinone.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Histopathological findings (x100, H&E): A) Control: A few inflammatory cells and edema; B) EDE Control: Focal mild chronic inflammation; C) EDE+BSS: Intense chronic inflammation; D) EDE+FML: Focal mild chronic inflammation; E) EDE+TQ: Focal mild inflammation; F) EDE+Tween80: Slight to moderate inflammation EDE: Experimental dry eye, BSS: Balanced salt solution, TQ: Thymoquinone, FML: Fluorometholone, SD: Standard deviation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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