Hossein Maghsoudi - Department of Biotechnology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Enayatollah Yazadanpanah - Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

Gastric ulcers have affected a large number of people around the world. Generally, the development of this disease results from an imbalance between mucosal defense mechanisms such as mucosal, bicarbonate, prostaglandin, and mucosal blood flow, and degrading factors including acid and pepsin in the luminal level of the gastric mucosa. Among these factors, two major causes of gastric ulcer and gastric ulcer healing are H. pylori infection and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSIADs)۱. Due to the side effects of these drugs (such as gastrointestinal complications), the use of alternative drugs is unavoidable and, given that the herbal remedies have little complications, the use of medicinal herbs for the treatment of this disease was also noted. Nigella sativa (Family Ranunculaceae) is a widely used medicinal plant throughout the world. Seeds and oil have a long history of folklore usage in various systems of medicines and food. In Islamic literature, it is considered as one of the greatest forms of healing medicine. It has been recommended for using on regular basis in Tibb-e-Nabwi (Prophetic Medicine). It has been widely used as antihypertensive, liver tonics, diuretics, digestive, anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, analgesics, anti-bacterial and in skin disorders, antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulator, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, hepato-protective, renal protective, gastro-protective, antioxidant properties, etc. Due to its miraculous power of healing, Nigella sativa has got the place among the top ranked evidence based herbal medicines. In this research, the effect of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa L. (AENS)۲ on the expression of Cycloxygenase-۱ (COX-۱)۳ gene on KATO III cells and Cycloxygenase-۲ (COX-۲)۴ gene on bovine fibroblast-like synoviocyte (BFLSc)۵ was investigated.

Gastric ulcer, Cox-۱, Cox-۲, AENS, KATO III cells, Bovine Fibroblast-like Synoviocyte