ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Nigella sativa ethanol extract on nitric oxide (NO) levels and renal arteriole diameter of a pre-eclampsia mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experimental study was conducted using a post-test only control group design. Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into six groups: one negative control (normal pregnant mice), one positive control (pre-eclampsia model), and four groups of pre-eclampsia mice treated with varying doses of N. sativa (500 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day, 1000 mg/kg BW/day, 1500 mg/kg BW/day, and 2000 mg/kg BW/day). Ethanol extract of N. sativa was given for 5 days. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. RESULTS: We detected significant differences in NO levels between the pre-eclampsia mouse model and those given the ethanol extract. The latter had NO levels of 85.77±4.47 µM (500 mg/kg BW/day), 189.04±6.01 µM (1000 mg/kg BW/day), 226.56±2.13 µM (1500 mg/BW/day), and 207.98±4.74 µM (2000 mg/kg BW/day). The mean renal arteriole diameter showed significant differences among the treatment groups with N. sativa doses of 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg (15.15±2.21b µm, 16.35±2.52b µm, and 15.76±3.03b µm, respectively). CONCLUSION: N. sativa ethanol extract treatment increases NO levels and enlarges renal arteriole diameter of a pre-eclampsia mouse model in a dose-dependent manner.
