Antidepressant and anti-nociceptive effects of Nigella sativa and its main constituent, thymoquinone: A literature review

Medicinal plants and their ingredients have beneficial effects on human health. Nigella sativa is a herbal plant with multiple biological and pharmacological activities. Previous studies demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Nigella sativa and its main constituent thymoquinone significantly contributes to the antidepressant and anti-nociception effects of this plant. It has been reported that thymoquinone may achieve its antidepressant effect by preventing the elimination of brain neurotransmitters affecting depression such as serotonin. The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factors in the antidepressant effects of thymoquinone has also been documented. Additionally, thymoquinone can attenuate pain by upregulation of intracellular signaling pathways related to nitric oxide and K+ATP channels. The present review summarizes the antidepressant and anti-nociceptive activity of Nigella sativa and its main constituent thymoquinone by searching literature on electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar from the beginning of 2010 until the end of August 2022.