Title:Protective Effect of Nigella sativa Seed Extract and its Bioactive
Compound Thymoquinone on Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats
Volume: 22
Issue: 1
Author(s): Samar Saeed Khan*Kamal Uddin Zaidi
Affiliation:
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi
Arabia
Keywords:
Hyperglycemia, herbals, streptozotocin, hepatopathy, chromatography, Nigella sativa.
Abstract:
Background: The lack of a substantial breakthrough in the treatment of diabetes, a
global issue, has led to an ongoing quest for herbs that contain bioactive elements with hypoglycemic
properties.
Objective: To investigate the potential protective effect of Nigella sativa seeds ethanol extract and
its active ingredient, thymoquinone, on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Methods: To induce diabetes, the male Wistar rats were administered an intraperitoneal injection
of STZ at a dosage of 90 mg/kg body weight in 0.9 percent normal saline after being fasted for 16
hours and made diabetic Group 1; 7 rats non-diabetic control (saline-treated), Group 2; 7 untreated
diabetic rats, Group 3; 7 diabetic rats treated orally with N. sativa extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg
body weight, Group 4; 7 diabetic rats treated orally with thymoquinone at a dose of 10 mg/kg body
weight and Group 5; 7 diabetic rats treated orally with Metformin at a dose of 5 mg/kg body
weight. After the treatment of 28 days, all groups were examined for body weight and biochemical
alterations.
Results: The results showed a significant decrease in blood glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid,
total protein, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein, while
high-density lipoprotein was increased. Hepatic enzymes, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase,
and alkaline phosphate were also normalized and significantly increased body
weight.
Conclusion: These preliminary findings demonstrate that the ethanol extract of N. sativa seeds and
its active ingredient, thymoquinone have a protective effect against streptozotocin-induced diabetic
rats. The present study opens new vistas for the use of N. sativa and its bioactive compound, thymoquinone,
regarding its clinical application as a new nontoxic antidiabetic agent for managing
diabetes mellitus.
