الفهرس 
Diesel Exhaust ParticlesOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Introduction: Bronchial asthma is a major health problem which increases in prevalence due to air pollution. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) account for most important air pollutant in the world’s largest cities. Nigella Sativa (N.S) oil has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and antineoplastic effects.
Aim of the Work: This work aimed to study the effect of Nigella Sativa oil administration on structure of the lungs of asthmatic rats that exposed to diesel exhaust particles.
Material & Methods: Fifty seven male adult albino rats were used in this study. They were classified into three groups. GROUP (I) control group which was subdivided into five subgroups. GROUP (II) in which animals were exposed to DEPs aerosol for 5 consecutive days. GROUP (III) was subdivided into: Subgroup IIIa: The animals were sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA) in the 1st day and in the 3rdday followed by a challenge dose in the 24th day. Subgroup IIIb: The animals were treated with OVA as in subgroup IIIa and exposed to DEPs aerosol in day 19th and day 23rd. Subgroup IIIc: The animals were injected with OVA, exposed to DEPs and were given N.S oil orally from day 1 to day 24. Animals were sacrificed at the 6th day in group II and in the 25th day in the rest of the subgroups. Three animals from each group and subgroup were subjected to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In the rest of animals, lung specimens were obtained, fixed and processed for light microscopic examination. Morphometric and statistical studies were also performed.
Results: In group II, focal affection of the lung tissue in the form of localized areas of peribronchial mononuclear cellular infiltration was observed. Areas of desquamation of the epithelial lining of some bronchial passages were detected. In subgroup IIIa, OVA induced lung inflammatory response. Heavy mononuclear cellular infiltration, desquamation of epithelial lining of the bronchiolar passages with presence of secretory exudates and cellular debris in their lumena were noticed. These results were exaggerated by exposure to DEPs during asthma induction (subgroup IIIb). BAL fluid showed a significant increase in number of both macrophages and neutrophils in group II compared to control group. These cells together with eosinophils and lymphocytes revealed significant increase in subgroupsIIIa and IIIb compared to control. All these parameters were attenuated by N.S oil as evidenced by light microscopic examination, BAL and morphometric measurements.
Conclusion: Administration of Nigella Sativa oil during induction of bronchial asthma had a protective effect even with the presence of DEPs. The protective role of Nigella Sativa oil might be exerted via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Keywords: DEPs, Asthma, Nigella Sativa oil, bronchoalveolar lavage, inflammation, lung.