Nigella sativa (Family Ranunculaceae) is a widely used medicinal plant throughout the world. N. sativa is referred in the Middle East as a part of an overall holistic approach to health. Pharmacological properties of N. sativa including immune stimulant, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, spasmolytic and bronchodilator have been shown. Reactive oxygen specie...

The importance and extent of wine consumption in all life aspects at the Holy Land is well documented. The Muslim influence in this region led to the abandonment of winemaking practices, and possible loss of indigenous wine varieties. Here we present a country wide collection of the local grapevine population including wild and cultivated forms, and its characterization by genetic, ampelographi...

Surgery remains the preferred treatment for hydatid cyst (cystic echinococcosis, CE). Various scolicidal agents have been used for inactivation of protoscolices during surgery, but most of them are associated with adverse side effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effect of Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) essential oil and also its active principle, thymoquinone, a...

In the present study the protective effect of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) on synaptic plasticity impairment induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats was investigated. Fifty-eight rats were grouped and treated as follows: 1) control (saline), 2) LPS, 3) LPS-N. sativa, and 4) N. sativa. In a Morris water maze test, the escape latency and travelled path to find the platform as well as time spent...

Nigella sativa is an important spice and flavoring agent which is widely used in various European and Asian cuisines. It harbors an array of medicinal properties as shown by various researches. Germination is a phenomenon during which rapid changes in metabolic activities and the interconversions of metabolites take place. The objective of present study was to evaluate the antibacterial activit...

In this work phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies were carried out on Eruca saliva,Petroselinum crispum and Anethum graveolens alcoholic extract. LDso of these extracts can not be detected, when given orally in mice. These alcoholic extracts inhibit rabbit's intestinal motility . Eruca sativa extract stimulates the uterine motility of all stages of sex cycle, while Petroseli...

OBJECTIVE The incidence and prevalence of kidney stone is increasing worldwide. After the first recurrence the risk of subsequent relapses is higher and the time period between relapses is shortened. Urinary stones can be severely painful and make a huge economic burden. The stone disease may increase the vulnerability of patients to other diseases such as renal failure. Medicinal herbs are ric...