Objectives:The primary objective of the study is to assess the toxic effect of pioglitazone in mice. Pioglitazone belongs to thiazolidinedione group of oral antidiabetic agents. The earlier drug of this group troglitazone has been withdrawn due to its liver toxicity. The other drug rosiglitazone which was used like pioglitazone as insulin sensitizing agent in type 2 diabetes has been banned due to its cardiovascular side effects, recently. So, Pioglitazone was administered in high doses ¼ LD50 and ½ LD50 in mice to assess the acute toxic effect which also correlate with accidental over dose.Materials and Methods:Swiss albino mice of either sex weighing between 20 and 35 gm were selected. 18 mice were taken and divided into 3 groups of 6 each. The mice were kept for overnight fasting and on the following day group I (control) was administered 0.5 ml distilled water as single dose, group II (¼ LD50) 500 mg/kg pioglitazone as single dose and group III (½ LD50) 1000 mg/kg pioglitazone as single dose, orally. All the animals had free access to food and water after drug administration. After 24 hours, mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Heart, liver and kidneys were dissected and subjected to histopathological examination.Results:In group I (control), the histopathological examination of heart, liver and kidneys revealed no changes. In group II (¼ LD50), there was ventricular hypertrophy of heart in 4 out of 6 mice. Mild congestion of liver and kidneys was seen in 4 out of 6 and 2 out of 6 mice, respectively. In group III (½ LD50), 2 mice out of 6 have died within 24 hours of pioglitazone administration. The histopathological studies of remaining 4 mice have shown ventricular hypertrophy of heart and congestion of liver and kidneys.Conclusions:Acute administration of large doses of pioglitazone has shown ventricular hypertrophy with congestion of liver and kidneys in mice which can happen with accidental overdose of pioglitazone in patients. It is therefore advisable not to prescribe pioglitazone in diabetic patients having congestive heart failure as well as in patients having chronic hypertension, since chronic hypertension leads to ventricular hypertrophy which might get worsened.

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Objective:The main objective of our study is to see the hepatoprotective effect of Nigella sativa in Cyclosporine induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods: the effect of Nigella sativa on cyclosporine induced hepatotoxicity was studied in albino rats. The animals were divided into 3groups with 6 rats in each group. Group I served as vehicle control, Group II animals were given Cyclosporine 25mg/Kg body weight orally for 21 days and Group III were given Cyclosporine 25mg/Kg + Nigella sativa 1ml/Kg body weight orally for 21 days. The blood samples were collected for liver enzymes estimation before and after the experiment. The animals were sacrificed on 22 nd day and liver was subjected to histopathological examination. Results: Cyclosporine provoked hepatotoxicity was evident from increase of hepatic enzyme levels and histopathological changes. Addition of Nigella sativa has resulted in the decrease of elevated hepatic enzyme levels and improvement in histopathological changes in liver. Conclusion:The present study showed that Nigella sativa oil has protective effect on Cyclosporine induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats.

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