Anti-inflammatory effect and toxicological evaluation of thymoquinone (volatile oil of black seed) on adjuvant-induced arthritis inWistar Rat

Inflammatory disorder to be considered autoimmune disease which, affects the joints and is associated with swelling, stiffness and pain. The study was subjected to evaluate therapeutic potential of thymoquinone (volatile oil of black seed) on freundʹs complete adjuvant induced arthritis in rats. Arthritis was induced in rats by injecting 0.1ml of freundʹs complete adjuvant into the left hind paw of the rat intradermally for 21 days. Thymoquinone orally administered to male and female wistar rat at dose level of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 mg/kg body weight for 35 days repeatedly, post induced did not produce any sign of toxicity, mortality, pathological changes and significant blood parameters changes. The investigated result showed that the thymoquinone (10 mg/kgb.wt) significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited the FCA induced arthritis and showed significant anti-inflammatory activity. Thymoquinone 10 mg/kgb.wt also tends to suppress the inflammation at p < 0.05 level significance. Therefore, thymoquinone treatment found to possess potent anti-inflammatory activity with no toxicity and the treatment significantly inhibited the development phase of arthritis which, is further supported by its anti-inflammatory effect was comparable to that of standard drug prednisolone (5 mg/kgb.wt).