Long-term effects of Nigella sativa L. oil on some physiological parameters in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Ayed Al-Logmani,Talal Zari

doi:10.4236/jdm.2011.13007

Abstract

The long-term effects of Nigella sativa L. oil on some physiological parameters were investigated in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant increases in the levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), uric acid, urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) while high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) and total protein levels were significantly decreased compared to normal rats. Administration of black seed oil to diabetic rats resulted in a significant decrease in blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL–cholesterol ALT, AST and uric acid while HDL–cholesterol level was markedly increased compared to untreated diabetic rats after seven weeks of treatment. The results of this study indicate that the diet containing the oil of N. sativa improves the examined physiological parameters in STZ-induced diabetic rats especially when it is used for a longer period.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus is probably the fastest growing metabolic disorder in the world and it is a major source of morbidity in developed countries
Administration of N. sativa oil to diabetic rats resulted in a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in blood glucose levels of 64.9% after 7 weeks, compared to untreated diabetic rats
Administration of black seed oil in non-diabetic rats showed no significant differences in the level of blood glucose after 7 weeks

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is probably the fastest growing metabolic disorder in the world and it is a major source of morbidity in developed countries. Medicinal plants play an important role in the management of diabetes mellitus especially in developing countries where resources are meager. Many studies have confirmed the benefits of medicinal plants with hypoglycaemic effects in the management of diabetes mellitus. The effects of these plants may delay the development of diabetic complications and correct the metabolic abnormalities [1,2]. There is an increased demand to use natural products with antidiabetic activity due to the side effects associated with the use of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents [4,5,6]. There is little information about plants with both hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects [9]

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Conclusion