Study of the possible protective effects of Nigella sativa on some experimentally induced cardiac, renal and liver diseases in rats

ABSTRACT

This work was designed to declare the possible protective effects of Nigella sativa "crushed seeds" on experimentally induced renal hypertension, myocardial infarction, renal and hepatic toxicities in male albino rats. The results of the present study demonestrated that Nigella sativa. [N.S] orally for four weeks [l80mg/kg/day] produced significant diastolic hypotensive effect in control normal rats and prevented development of renal hypertension when was administered simultaneously with left renal artery ligation in rats. This hypotensive effect of N.S most probably may be due to inhibition of Ca[++] ion entry via slow Ca[++] channels, inhbition of eicosanoids synthesis and increase release of endothelium derived relaxing factors. However, oral pretreatment with N.S for 4 weeks did not produce significant protective effect in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction. Simultaneous administration of N.S with gentamicin sulphate [60mg/kg SC once/day] produced signficant protective effect on renal functions manifested by reduction in serum levels of urea and creatinine [as indicators for kidney function]. This may be explained on the ability of N.S to act as free radical scavenger and to stimulate DNA and protein synthesis that improve tissue regeneration. Additionally, enhanced glutathione, DNA and protein synthesis can explain the protective effect of N.S against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Furthermore, N.S significantly decreased the renal and hepatic histopathological toxic changes induced by gentamicin or acetaminophen respectively, but did not be able to normalize them long term administration of N.S may modulate the reactivity of the blood vessels to different endogenous vasoactive agents which may be the cause of renal hypertension and may be also used in the prophylaxis against drugs-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Accordingly, N.S as a medicinal plant has wide range of health promotion and can play a role in the prophylaxis against drugs induced organs toxicity