Nigella sativa oil mitigate paraquat-induced neurobehavioural, oxidative and histological alterations in the cerebellum of adult male wistar rat

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Over the past few decades, several cases of poisoning and death resulting from environmental exposure to the herbicide, paraquat (PQ), has been reported. However, nigella sativa oil, with several antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties present a significant tool against PQ-induced toxicity. Thus, the study aim was to assess the possible mitigative effect of nigella sativa oil administration on paraquat-induced neurotoxicity in the cerebellum. Twenty-eight (28) adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of seven (7) rats each. Group I (control) received 0.3ml of normal saline daily; Group II received 0.1ml of paraquat daily; Group III received 0.1ml of paraquat and 0.3ml of nigella sativa daily; and Group IV received 0.3ml of nigella sativa daily. Administrations were done via oral gavage and experimentation lasted for 14 days. On day 13 of the experiment, animals from all groups were subjected to neurobehavioral tests using hanging wire test for grip period. Afterwards, the rats were sacrificed using anesthesia. Blood samples was collected and the brains were harvested for biochemical and histological studies. The result from this study revealed a decrease in grip time in the hanging wire test, in the group administered PQ only when compared to the control. However, the groups administered nigella sativa oil (NSO) showed an increase in grip time compared to the PQ only treated group, these differences are however insignificant. Also, a marked decrease in the GST and TAC levels were observed in the group exposed to PQ only when compared to the control group. However, the groups treated with NSO showed marked increase in these antioxidants level compared to the PQ group. Also, however insignificant, PQ exposure caused a slight increase in ROS levels compared to the control, and slight decrease in ROS levels in the PQ+NSO and NSO respectively was recorded. Distortion in the histoarchitecture of the cerebellum, were also recorded in the PQ-treated group when compared to the control. However, preservation of general histoarchitecture was observed in these brain regions in the treatment groups. Keywords: Sativia Oil, Experiment, Wire Test.