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. 2025 Dec;11(1):2458434.
doi: 10.1080/20565623.2025.2458434. Epub 2025 Jan 31.

A study to determine the effect of nano-selenium and thymoquinone on the Nrf2 gene expression in Alzheimer's disease

Doha El-Sayed Ellakwa  1   2 , Laila Ahmed Rashed  2 , Ola Sayed Ali  1 , Noha Amr El-Sabbagh  3
Affiliations

A study to determine the effect of nano-selenium and thymoquinone on the Nrf2 gene expression in Alzheimer's disease

Doha El-Sayed Ellakwa et al. Future Sci OA. 2025 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is a developing public health concern in aging communities that affects a sizable section of the global population. The risk of Alzheimer's disease increases with age; it affects one-third of males and two-thirds of women. This research attempts to assess the effect of nano-selenium and thymoquinone on Nrf2 gene expression levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: There were five identical groups of 50 albino male rats: a control group that was healthy; an AD positive control group; an AD group that received nano-selenium (5 mg/kg); an AD group that received thymoquinone (2 mg/kg); and an AD group that received both. The duration of treatment was 4 weeks. The levels of Nrf2 in brain tissues were evaluated using real-time PCR.

Results: Nrf2 mean expression levels in the nano-selenium-treated rats, the thymoquinone-treated rats, and the rats that were given both treatments all increased significantly compared to AD rats with no treatment.

Conclusions: This study showed that nano-selenium and thymoquinone elevated Nrf2 gene expression levels in AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; antioxidant; lipopolysaccharides; nano-selenium; neurodegeneration; neuroprotective; nigella sativa; thymoquinone.

Plain language summary

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common dementia causing cognitive decline. Nrf2 signaling may be a potential therapeutic target, while thymoquinone and nano-selenium could be effective neuroprotective agents for AD management, potentially reducing neuronal damage. In this study, the effects of thymoquinone and nano-selenium treatments on AD rat models were evaluated through behavior study by performing the Morris Water Maze test, estimation of different markers (Nrf2, Aβ-42, GSH, MDA, and TNF-α), and histopathological examination of brain tissue.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Characterization of SeNPs (a) UV–Vis spectrum (b) Dynamic light scattering (c) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Correlation between GSH and TNF in the group of rats with Alzheimer’s disease treated with nano-selenium and thymoquinone.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Correlation between nrf2 and time consumed in MWM in the group of rats with Alzheimer’s disease treated with nano-selenium and thymoquinone.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Histopathological examination of rat’s brain tissue in (a) healthy control group (b) AD positive control group (c) AD + SeNPs group (d) AD + TQ group (e) AD + SeNPs + TQ group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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