ABSTRACT
The acute hypoglycemic effect of Nigella Sativa seeds was investigated in alloxan or streptozotocine - induced diabetic rats. A single intraperitoneal injection of water extract of the whole seeds in a dose of 400, 600 and 900 mg/kg lowered the glucose level significantly after 2 hours and the effect further increased persistently after the 3 and 4 hour following the injection. Also we compared the hypoglycemic effect of seeds with aqueous extract of olive leaves, and the results showed that Nigella Sativa was more effective in lowering blood sugar. Glibenclamide and Metformine were used as reference. Glibenclamide [3 mg/kg] showed similar hypoglycemic effect to the aqueous extract of Nigella Sativa Metformine [250 mg/kg] was more effective in lowering blood sugar than Glibenclamide and Nigella Sativa. At the same time the daily oral administration of water extract of Nigella Sativa [2500 mg/kg] showed a significant reduction of the glycemia after 7 days of treatment, and the blood sugar continued to be reduced constantly to the end of experiments [23 days]