Black Cumin ** Experiment III

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Journal of Ethnopharmacology

 

Volume 79, Issue 1, pp. 1 - 11, February, 2002

The effect of Nigella sativa oil against the liver damage induced by

Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

 

Authors

 

M.R. Mahmoudb, H.S. El-Abhara*, S. Saleha

 

a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cairo University, Kaser

El-Aini Str. Cairo 11562, Egypt b Department of Pharmacology, Theodor

Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba, Giza, Egypt

 

Abstract

 

It has been reported that Nigella sativa oil possesses anticestode and

antinematode actions. Besides, it produced a hepatoprotective effect in

some models of liver toxicity. Therefore, our aim in this work was to

study the effect of the Nigella oil (N.O) on Schistosomiasis mansoni

infected mice.

 

The oil was given in two dose levels (2.5 and 5 ml/kg, orally for two

weeks) either alone or in combination with praziquantel (PZQ), the drug

of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis.

 

Three aspects of drug action were investigated, the effect on

Schistosomiasis mansoni infection, the effect on liver functions, and on

redox state.

 

The parasitological investigation included worm distribution, oogram

pattern and ova count. Furthermore, liver granuloma diameters were

measured. The biochemical parameters were the serum level of L -alanine

aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline

phosphatase (AP), albumin (Alb) and total protein.

 

Moreover, to assess the antioxidant capability of the Nigella oil, four

parameters were studied, viz., liver lipid peroxide (LPD) and reduced

glutathione (GSH) contents and the activity of the defence enzyme

superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

 

When the oil was given alone, it reduced the number of S. mansoni worms

in the liver and decreased the total number of ova deposited in both the

liver and the intestine.

 

Furthermore, it increased the number of dead ova in the intestinal wall

and reduced the granuloma diameters markedly. When N.O was administered

in combination with PZQ, the most prominent effect was a further

lowering in the dead ova number over that produced by PZQ alone.

 

Concerning the biochemical parameters, infection of mice with S. mansoni

produced a pronounced elevation in the serum activity of ALT, GGT, with

a slight increase in AP level. However, it tended to reduce serum

albumin level.

 

These changes were accompanied with an alteration in the liver contents

of LPD and GSH along with a significant decline in the activity of the

cytosolic SOD and LDH. Administration of Nigella sativa oil succeeded

partially to correct the previous changes in ALT, GGT, AP activity, as

well as the Alb content in serum. However, it failed in the liver to

restore either LPD and GSH content or LDH and SOD activities to normal

level. These results suggest that Nigella sativa oil may play a role

against the alterations caused by S. mansoni infection, an effect which

may be induced partly by improving the immunological host system and to

some extent with its antioxidant effect.

 

Keywords: Nigella sativa oil, CAS 55268-74-1, Praziquantel,

Schistosomiasis, Schistosoma mansoni, Liver damage, Lipid peroxide,

Reduced glutathione, Superoxide dismutase, Lactate dehydrogenase, L

-Alanine aminotransferase, gamma-Glutamyl transferase, Alkaline

phosphatase, Serum albumin

 

PII: s0378874101003105

 

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