Aim: To evaluate the antioxidant effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and to investigate the biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in experimental rat ovarian torsion. Methods: A total of 48 female adult rats were used in this study and randomly divided into 7 groups: (1) sham operation; (2) bilateral 3-hour ovarian ischemia; (3) 3-hour ischemia and 3-hour reperfusion; (4) and (5) rats were administered 20 and 40 mg/kg of TQ, respectively, before 0.5 h of ischemia, and then 3 h of ovarian ischemia was applied; (6) and (7) 3-hour ovarian ischemia was applied; 2.5 h after the induction of ischemia, rats were administered the same doses of TQ; at the end of 3 h of ischemia, a 3-hour reperfusion was applied. Histologic changes under light microscopy, immunoreactivity for anticaspase-3 and serum levels of malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were noted and compared between the 7 groups. Results: Ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion cause a deterioration of biochemical and histopathological parameters. Administration of TQ seems to reverse these alterations and alleviate the injury. Antioxidant defense mechanisms appear to be enhanced by the administration of TQ. Conclusion: TQ at different doses attenuates ovarian ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Keywords:
Ischemia, Reperfusion, Thymoquinone, Ovary, Torsion
1.
Oelsner G, Shashar D: Adnexal torsion. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2006;49:459-463.
2.
Akdemir A, Erbas O, Gode F, Ergenoglu M, Yeniel O, Oltulu F, Yavasoglu A, Taskıran D: Protective effect of oxytocin on ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Peptides 2014;55:126-130.
3.
Abali R, Tasdemir N, Yuksel MA, Guzel S, Oznur M, Nalbantoglu B, Tasdemir UG: Protective effect of infliximab on ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat ovary model: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2013;171:353-357.
4.
Yapca OE, Turan MI, Yilmaz I, Salman S, Gulapoglu M, Suleyman H: Benefits of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of etoricoxib in the prevention of ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury induced experimentally in rats. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2014;40:1674-1679.
5.
Kumtepe Y, Odabasoglu F, Karaca M, Polat B, Halici MB, Keles ON, Altunkaynak Z, Gocer F: Protective effects of telmisartan on ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat ovary: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation. Fertil Steril 2010;93:1299-1307.
6.
Oral A, Odabasoglu F, Halici Z, Keles ON, Unal B, Coskun AK, Kilic C, Surer I, Salman AB: Protective effects of montelukast on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovaries subjected to torsion and detorsion: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation. Fertil Steril 2011;95:1360-1366.
7.
Bozkurt S, Arikan DC, Kurutas EB, Sayar H, Okumus M, Coskun A, Balkan V: Selenium has a protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat ovary model: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation. J Pediatr Surg 2012;47:1735-1741.
8.
Kara M, Daglioglu YK, Kuyucu Y, Tuli A, Tap O: The effect of edaravone on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovary. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2012;162:197-202.
9.
Enomoto S, Asano R, Iwahori Y, Narui T, Okada Y, Singab AN, Okuyama T: Hematological studies on black cumin oil from the seeds of Nigella sativa L. Biol Pharm Bull 2001;24:307-310.
10.
Ragheb A, Attia A, Eldin WS, Elbarbry F, Gazarin S, Shoker A: The protective effect of thymoquinone, an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, against renal injury: a review. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2009;20:741-752.
11.
El Abhar HS, Abdallah DM, Saleh S: Gastroprotective activity of Nigella sativa oil and its constituent, thymoquinone, against gastric mucosal injury induced by ischaemia/reperfusion in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2003;84:251-258.
12.
Nagi MN, Mansour MA: Protective effect of thymoquinone against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats: a possible mechanism of protection. Pharmacol Res 2000;41:283-289.
13.
Van Ryn J, Trummlitz G, Pairet M: COX-2 selectivity and inflammatory processes. Curr Med Chem 2000;7:1145-1161.
14.
Mansour M, Tornhamre S: Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene C4 synthase in human blood cells by thymoquinone. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2004;19:431-436.
15.
El-Mahmoudy A, Matsuyama H, Borgan MA, Shimizu Y, El-Sayed MG, Minamoto N, Takewaki T: Thymoquinone suppresses expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat macrophages. Int Immunopharmacol 2002;2:1603-1611.
16.
Xia T, Fu Y, Gao H, Zhao Z, Zhao L, Han B: Recovery of ovary function impaired by chemotherapy using Chinese herbal medicine in a rat model. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2014;15:1-11.
17.
Lombardi LA, Simões RS, Maganhin CC, Baracat MC, Silva-Sasso GR, Florencio-Silva R, Soares JM, Baracat EC: Immunohistochemical evaluation of proliferation, apoptosis and steroidogenic enzymes in the ovary of rats with polycystic ovary. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2014;60:349-356.
18.
Halici Z, Karaca M, Keles ON, Borekci B, Odabasoglu F, Suleyman H, Cadirci E, Bayir Y, Unal B: Protective effects of amlodipine on ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat ovary: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation. Fertil Steril 2008;90:2408-2415.
19.
Kazez A, Ozel SK, Akpolat N, Goksu M: The efficacy of conservative treatment for late term ovarian torsion. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2007;17:110-114.
20.
Salem ML: Immunomodulatory and therapeutic properties of the Nigella sativa L. seed. Int Immunopharmacol 2005;5:1749-1770.
21.
Sak ME, Soydinc HE, Sak S, Evsen MS, Alabalik U, Akdemir F, Gul T: The protective effect of curcumin on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovary. Int J Surg 2013;11:967-970.
22.
Parthasarathy S, Santanam N, Ramachandran S, Meilhac O: Potential role of oxidized lipids and lipoproteins in antioxidant defense. Free Radic Res 2000;33:197-215.
23.
Houghton PJ, Zarka R, de las Heras B, Hoult JR: Fixed oil of Nigella sativa and derived thymoquinone inhibit eicosanoid generation in leukocytes and membrane lipid peroxidation. J Planta Med 1995;61:33-42.
24.
Mahgoub AA: Thymoquinone protects against experimental colitis in rats. Toxicol Lett 2003;143:133-143.
25.
Kruk I, Michalska T, Lichszteld K, Kladna A, Aboul-Enein HY: The effect of thymol and its derivatives on reactions generating reactive oxygen species. Chemosphere 2000;41:1059-1064.
26.
El-Saleh C, Al-Sagair OA, Al-Khalaf MI: Thymoquinone and Nigella sativa oil protection against methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in rats. Int J Cardiol 2004;93:19-23.
27.
Ilhan A, Gurel A, Armutcu F, Suat Kamisli S, Iraz M: Antiepileptogenic and antioxidant effects of Nigella sativa oil against pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling in mice. Neuropharmacology 2005;49:456-464.
28.
Zaoui A, Cherrah Y, Alaoui K, Mahassine N, Amarouch H, Hassar M: Effects of Nigella sativa fixed oil on blood homeostasis in rat. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;97:23-26.
29.
Swamy SM, Tan BK: Cytotoxic and immunopotentiating effects of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L. seeds. J Ethnopharmacol 2000;70:1-7.
30.
Ismail M, Al-Naqeep G, Chan KW: Nigella sativa thymoquinone-rich fraction greatly improves plasma antioxidant capacity and expression of antioxidant genes in hypercholesterolemic rats. Free Radic Biol Med 2010;48:664-672.
31.
Chakravarty N: Inhibition of histamine release from mast cells by nigellone. Ann Allergy 1993;70:237-242.
32.
Osmanağaoğlu MA, Kesim M, Yuluğ E, Menteşe A, Karahan SC: Ovarian-protective effects of clotrimazole on ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat ovarian-torsion model. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2012;74:125-130.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel
2015
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.