Thymoquinone inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory mediators in BV2 microglial cells

• Thymoquinone inhibits LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and PGE2 production.
• Thymoquinone inhibits LPS-induced NF-κB activation.
• Thymoquinone inhibits LPS-induced PI3K/Akt phosphorylation.

Thymoquinone, the major active compound isolated from the medicinal Nigella sativa, has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of thymoquinone on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. The effects of thymoquinone on inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and PGE2 production were detected by ELISA. The effects of thymoquinone on PI3K, Akt phosphorylation, and NF-κB activation were detected by western blot analysis. Our results showed that thymoquinone dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and PGE2 production. Thymoquinone also inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation. Furthermore, thymoquinone was found to inhibit LPS-induced PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, which were upstream molecules of NF-κB. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that thymoquinone might inhibit LPS-induced PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, which leading to the inhibition of NF-κB activation and inflammatory mediator production in BV2 microglia cells.