Thymoquinone ameliorates NLRP3-mediated inflammation in the pancreas of albino Wistar rats fed ethanol and high-fat diet.

Background: Inflammasomes are protein complexes that mediate the process of inflammation and tissue injury by regulating the level of cytokine production. Pancreatitis is a major gastrointestinal disorder characterized by painful inflammation in the pancreas. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether thymoquinone (TQ) exerts anti-inflammatory activity by influencing the expression of the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) complex of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes in rats subjected to experimental pancreatitis.

Rutin modulates ASC expression in NLRP3 inflammasome: a study in alcohol and cerulein-induced rat model of pancreatitis.

Inflammasomes are protein complexes formed in response to tissue injury and inflammation to regulate the formation of proinflammatory cytokines. Nod-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) is one such inflammasome involved in pancreatic inflammation. Caspase activation recruitment domain (CARD) is an interaction motif found in all the major components of NLRP3 inflammasome such as apoptosis associated speck-like CARD containing protein (ASC) and procaspase-1.

Rutin rich Emblica officinalis Geart. fruit extract ameliorates inflammation in the pancreas of rats subjected to alcohol and cerulein administration.

Background: The modulating effect of methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis (MEEO) on ethanol (EtOH)- and cerulein (Cer)-induced pancreatitis in rats was investigated in this study.

Methods: Male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 and 2 rats served as control and fed normal diet.

Effect of thymoquinone on ethanol and high fat diet induced chronic pancreatitis--a dose response study in rats.

A significant increase in serum lipase, amylase, capase-1 and myeloperoxidase activities, oxidative stress index (OSI), IL-1beta and IL-18 was observed in rats receiving ethanol (EtOH) and high fat diet (HFD). Thymoquinone (TQ) supplementation along with EtOH and HFD significantly decreased the levels of serum lipase, amylase, capase-1, myeloperoxidase, OSI and maintained the antioxidant status when compared to untreated EtOH and HFD fed rats. Among the 4 doses, 100 mg of TQ/kg body weight was found to provide optimum protective effect on pancreas against EtOH and HFD induced abnormal changes.