Abstract
Inflammation in brain is a causative factor for neural excitability and reduced neurogenesis in chronic epilepsy. Thymoquinone (TQ), an active constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, possesses anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective roles. This study investigated the role of TQ (10 mg/kg; ip) in neuroprotection and neurogenesis in kainic acid (0.5µg; intraventricular)‐induced model of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy in middle aged Wistar rats (12‐monh‐old). The normal and sham controls, epileptic and TQ‐treated epileptic rats (n=6/group) were sacrificed at 5th day and at the end of 3rd month. Brain sections were stained with Fluro‐Jade B and labeled for Doublecortin. The number of degenerating neurons in CA1 (Cornu ammonis 1), CA3 and dentate hilus were quantified at 5th day, and newly born neurons and mossy fiber sprouting were quantified in the dentate gyrus at the end of 3rd month. TQ significantly reduced the neuron degeneration (25%), in CA1, CA3 and dentate hilus, suppressed the mossy fiber sprouting (30‐40%), and increased (20‐30%) the neurogenesis in dentate gyrus as compared to epilepsy‐only group (P<0.001). Our results suggest that TQ inhibits neurodegeneration and enhances neurogenesis in hippocampus and has anti‐epileptic effects (Supported by Kuwait University Grant #YM02/14).
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