ABSTRACT
This study was designed to examine the potential effect of Nigella sativa [the black seed or kammoun aswed] on ingestion of yeast cells by macrophages. The authentic Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah on the Black seed my give a clue of the possible effect on the immune system. Therefore, the design of our study was based on this hint. A total of 84 white albino mice were used; 42 mice were tested by feeding with the black seed enriched food while another group of 42 mice were used as controls and were fed only normal food. Both groups of animals were challenged by intraperitoneal injection of dead candida albicans. There was a significant enhancement of ingestion in the tested mice with a mean +/- SD of 82.43 +/- 18.62 as compared to 60.81 +/- 11.59 in the control mice [P < 0.01] as shown by the higher percentage of peritoneal macrophages ingesting the organism. Electron microscopical studies showed no differences between macrophages of the two groups apart from the degree of ingestion ability