Black Cumin ** Experiment II

May 22, 2006

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 79, Issue 1, pp. 23 - 26, February, 2002

Effects of Nigella sativa fixed oil on blood homeostasis in rat

Authors

A. Zaouia*, Y. Cherrahb, K. Alaouib, N. Mahassinec, H. Amaroucha, M. Hassarb

a Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Hassan II,

Km 8, Route El Jadida, B.P. 5366, Maârif, Casablanca, Morocco

b Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie, Faculté de Médecine et

Pharmacie de Rabat, Rabat, Morocco c Service d'histopathologie, Centre

Hospitalier Universitaire, IBN SINA, Rabat, Morocco

Abstract

We investigated the effects of the fixed oil of Nigella sativa seeds in

rats by monitoring blood homeostasis and body weight as well as

toxicity. Animals were treated daily with an oral dose of 1 ml/kg body

weight of the N. sativa seed fixed oil for 12 weeks. Changes in key

hepatic enzymes levels were not observed in N. sativa treated rats after

12 weeks of treatment. The serum cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose

levels and the count of leukocytes and platelets decreased significantly

by 15.5, 22, 16.5, 35 and 32%, compared to control values, respectively;

while haematocrit and haemoglobin levels increased significantly by 6.4

and 17.4%, respectively. In parallel, significant slowdown of the body

weight evolution was observed in N. sativa treated animals comparatively

to the animal control group. On the other hand, no mortality was noted

for ten times the therapeutic dose in mice, during 15 days period after

the oil administration (10 ml/kg p.o.).

These results support the traditional use of N. sativa seeds as a

treatment of the dyslipidemia and the hyperglycaemia, and related

abnormalities; however, indicate a relative toxicity of this plant.

Acute and chronic toxicity, and the mode of the action of the N. sativa

fixed oil must be studied.

Keywords: Nigella sativa, Fixed oil, Biochemical parameters,

Haematological parameters, Toxicity

PII: s0378874101003427

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