The Effect of Thymoquinone on concentration of human mu-opioid receptors mediated by chronic morphine treatment in opioid receptor expressing cell (U87 MG)
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Morphine and Thymoquinone (TQ) are both opioid receptor stimulating compounds although they have different pharmacological origins. Morphine is a natural opioid derivative whereas TQ is one of the main pharmacologically active compounds from Nigella sativa oils. Objective : This study was carried out to study the effects of TQ on protein expression of mu -opioid receptors mediated by chronic morphine treatment in opioid receptor expressing cell line (U87 glioblastoma cells). Methods : U87 cells was grown in tissue culture flasks with RPMI 1640 medium containing 1 mmol/L L-glutamine, supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 1% (w/v) penicillin/streptomycin. The cell viability was assessed by the trypan blue dye and manually counted using a haemocytometer. The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of Morphine and TQ. The protein concentration of human mu -opioid receptor (MOR) level in the cells was determined using the Cusabio® ELISA Kit. Results : Data obtained from this assay indicated that 35 µM morphine and 60.9 µM TQ gives maximum MOR protein concentration. Co-treatment of morphine with TQ and methadone increased the MOR protein concentration (* P < 0.05). Conclusions : These finding suggest that TQ could possibly reduce the tolerance and dependence at cellular level by increasing MOR protein concentration. However, it needs to be further confirmed at molecular level and in-vivo study.
Source: Acta bioethica
Institution: Sultan Zainal Abidin University
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2504394926