Effect of Nigella Sativa on Heavy Metals-Induced Toxicity in Albino Rats

Abstract

This study was conduced to investigate the effect of adding Nigella sativa [NS] [5%] seeds on toxicity induced by both lead acetate and aluminum chloride at two levels {10% LD50 [L1] & 20% LD50 [L2]} which were fed to 60 adult male albino rats [118±5 g] for six weeks. Ten diet groups [6 rats each] 1- basal diet, 2- basal diet + NS, 3- basal diet + L1 Pb, 4- basal diet + L1 Pb + NS, 5- basal diet + L2 Pb, 6- basal diet + L2 Pb + NS, 7- basal diet + L1 Al, 8- basal diet + L1 Al + NS, 9- basal diet + L2 Al, and 10- basal diet + L2 Al + NS. Rats were fed as libitum during the experimental period at the end of the 6 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis. Organs were removed & weighed then tissues were prepared for histopathological examination. All data were statistically analyzed. Results revealed that adding NS to the diet increased body weight gain [BWG] and food intake [FI] significantly in rats in all groups compared to the control. There were no significant differences in organ relative weight [liver, kidney, and brain] between groups fed either [Pb or Al] at any level with or without addition of NS. Adding NS to the diet contaminated with Pb & Al increased total protein & globulin and decreased cholesterol and triglyceride, serum creatinine, urea, GOT and GPT. Using NS in groups fed on [Pb&Al] increased Hb and RBC’s level significantly. Groups fed NS had reduced the blood level of Pb&Al compared to groups fed on Pb&Al alone. Liver and kidney tissue of rats fed L1 & L2 of Pb &Al plus NS showed nearly normal structure compared to the negative control. This study suggests that NS has a beneficial effect on heavy metals intoxication on HB and RBC’s.