RESUMO
The present study aims at evaluating the immunomodulatory effects of Nigella sativa oil [NSO] in protein malnourished mice. Protein malnutrition [PM] was induced by keeping mice at nourishment with standard synthetic diet containing 8% casein content, while normally fed mice received 20% casein diet. NSO was given daily by the oral route, along two weeks in two dose levels [50mg/kg and 100 mg/kg]. It was found to restore the PM reduced relative weights of thymus, liver and spleen, as well as the induced decrease in total leucocytic count [TLC] which was expressed in reductions of lymphocytes and eosinophils count. Moreover, NSO could counteract the PM induced lowering in opsonophagocytic activity as indicated by lowering the phagocytosis percent as well as phagocytic and opsonophagocytic indices. In addition, the PM caused decline in both serum IgG and IgM, where only that of IgG was alleviated under the influence of NSO. The used high dose of NSO could correct the PM induced reduction in bone marrow lymphocytes count. The obtained data indicate that NSO possesses immunomodulatory actions and that it may be regarded as a candidate drug for counteracting the adverse immunological consequences that are induced by PM