Browsing by Author "Francik, R."

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Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Thymoquinone in Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Stimulated Sw982 Human Synovial Fibroblasts
(Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, 2023) Berkoz, M.; Yunusoglu, O.; Krosniak, M.; Francik, R.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints that can induce the formation of pannus tissue and ultimately leads to joint destruction. Thymoquinone, the major bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa seed oil has diverse pharmacological properties. Although there are some studies in the literature showing the anti-inflammatory activity of thymoquinone, it is not yet clear whether thymoquinone can prevent inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of thymoquinone treatment on synovial fibroblast s. In our study, we investigated the effects of thymoquinone on nitric oxide production, interleukine-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNF-R1), and TNF-R2 protein expressions, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Akt phosphorylation levels in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) stimulated SW982 human synovial fibroblasts. Thymoquinone treatment (0-1 µM) resulted in significant and concentration-dependently reduced the TNF-α stimulated production of nitric oxide, IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 levels compared to the untreated group (p<0.05). Also thymoquinone treatment in high concentrations exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing iNOS, COX-2, TNF-R1, and TNF-R2 protein expressions and the phosphorylation of JNK, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and Akt in SW982 synovial fibroblasts (p<0.05). Taken together, these results show that thymoquinone in high concentrations is able to play a beneficial role in TNF-α mediated signaling in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts. © 2023, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.
The Neuroprotective Effect of Cornus Mas on Brain Tissue of Wistar Rats
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2014) Francik, R.; Kryczyk, J.; Kros̈niak, M.; Berköz, M.; Sanocka, I.; Francik, Sł.
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is a valuable source of phenolic antioxidants. Flavonoid derivatives as nonenzymatic antioxidants are important in the pathophysiology of many diseases including neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) or heart disease. In this study, we examined the effect of an addition of freeze-dried fruit of cornelian cherry on three types of diets: control diet, fructose diet, and diet enriched in fats (high-fat diet). This effect was studied by determining the following antioxidant parameters in both brain tissue and plasma in rats: catalase, ferric reducing ability of plasma, paraoxonase, protein carbonyl groups, and free thiol groups. Results indicate that both fructose diet and high-fat diet affect the antioxidant capacity of the organism. Furthermore, an addition of cornelian cherry resulted in increased activity of catalase in brain tissue, while in plasma it caused the opposite effect. In turn, with regard to paraoxonase activity in both brain tissue and plasma, it had a stimulating effect. Adding cornelian cherry to the tested diets increased the activity of PON in both tested tissues. Moreover, protective effect of fruits of this plant was observed in the process of oxidation of proteins by decreasing levels of protein carbonyl groups and thiol groups in brain tissue as well as in plasma. © 2014 Renata Francik et al.