ABSTRACT
The present work was conducted to determine the protective effect of Nigella sativa and the prophylactic role of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine on liver cellular damage. Eighty rats classified into 8 equal groups. The first group was the normal control group, the second was the acetominophen induced liver damage group, the third was the nifedipine treated group, the fourth was the combined nifedipine and acetominophen treated group, the fifth was the nifedipine pretreated group. The Nigella sativa treated rats was the sixth group, the seventh group was combined Nigella sativa and acetominophen and lastly the eighth was the Nigella sativa pretreated group. The results of this study proved that Nigella sativa and nifedipine have a beneficial both protective and prophylactic effects against hepatic damage. So, the clinical trials of calcium channel blockers and Nigella satiua - in prophylaxis and early treatment of hepatic diseases on exposure of the liver to pathologic agents must be encouraged, depending mainly upon the opposing effects of both agents towards the significant increase of liver tissue calcium content by acetominophen administration. The aim of the present study is to show the prophylactic effect of both [Calcium channel blacker] nifedipine and Nigella sativa on experimentally induced hepatic toxicity