Ameliorative effect on Nigella Sativa on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

ABSTRACT

Nigella Sativa is traditionally known in Middle Eastern countries as "Habbat Al-Baraka". Nigella is most famous for the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, 'Hold on to use of the Blackseed, for it has a remedy for every illness except death. The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of Nigella Sativa [N. sativa] on aflatoxin B1 [AFB1]-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered of AFB1 [50 microg/kg, in 0.2 ml olive oil by gastric gavage] twice/ week for 8 weeks. The liver was isolated and processed for biochemical analysis. Changes in body weight were noted every week. Levels of markers indicative of hepatotoxicity such as aspartate aminotransferases [AST], alanine aminotransferases [ALT], gamma glutamyltransferase [gamma-GT] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] were assessed in the serum. The levels of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TBARS] as index of lipid peroxidation and glutathione redox status were assayed. The enzyme activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], glutathione reductase [GR], and glutathione-S-transferase [GST] were determined in the liver. The levels of serum AST, ALT, gamma-GT, and ALP were increased significantly in AFB1 injected group than the control group. The levels of hepatic GSH was significantly decreased while the oxidized form of GSH [GSSG] was significantly increased in AFB1 group. The leveis of hepatic TBARS in AFBt group war. significantly higher than control group. The activities of catalase, GSH-Px, GR and GST in liver tissues were significantly decreased in AFB1 group compared to their levels in controls. In rats which received N. sativa [4 9le body weight/day for 8 weeks] with AFBt, the levels of TBARS and GSSG in liver tissues were significantly reduced while GSH level and catalase, GSH-Px, GR, and GST activities were significantly increased compared to AF81 group. N. sativa administration per se did not cause any change compared to the controls. However concomitant treatment of N. sativa with AFB1 showed considerable decrease in levels of markers for hepatotoxicity compared to AFB1 treated group. it was concluded that AFB1 can induce hepatotoxicity in rats. Nigelia sativa treatment of rats could enhance liver enzymatic antioxidants systems and GSH redox status, which consequently reduce the hepatotoxicity and the oxidative stress markers in the liver. Thus, clinical application of N. sativa as therapy should take a great attention in case of aflatoxicosis