Effects of Nigella sativa L. and Urtica dioica L. on Selected Mineral Status and Hematological Values in CCl4-Treated Rats

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Nigella sativa L. (NS), known as black seed, or/and Urtica dioica L. (UD), known as stinging nettle root, treatments on serum Na, K, Cl, and Ca levels and some hematological values of CCl4-treated rats. Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, were randomly allotted into 1 of 4 experimental groups: A (CCl4-only treated), B (CCl4+UD treated), C (CCl4+NS treated), and D (CCl4+UD+NS treated), each containing 15 animals. All groups received CCl4 (0.8 mL/kg of body weight, subcutaneously, twice a week for 90 d starting d 1). In addition, B, C, and D groups also received the daily ip injection of 0.2 mL/kg NS and/or 2 mL/kg UD oils for 45 d starting d 46. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 mL/kg normal saline solution for 45 d starting d 46. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from five randomly chosen rats in each treatment group at the beginning, d 45, and d 90 of the experiment. The CCl4 treatment for 45 d significantly (p<0.05) increased the serum K and Ca and decreased (p<0.05) the red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), and Hb levels without changing (p>0.05) the serum Na and Cl levels. NS or UD treatments (alone or combination) for 45 d starting d 46 significantly (p<0.05) decreased the elevated serum K and Ca levels and also increased (p<0.05) the reduced RBC, WBC, PCV, and Hb levels. It is concluded that NS and/or UD treatments might ameliorate the CCl4-induced disturbances of anemia, some minerals, and body's defense mechanism in CCl4-treated rats.

Effects of MgCl2 supplementation on blood parameters and kidney injury of rats exposed to CCl4

“…Our results show that the administration of carbon tetrachloride induced a highly significant reduction in the number of white blood cells [39,46]. A decrease in platelet count or thrombocytopenia was also reported following the same treatment.…”

Immunomodulatory and therapeutic properties of the Nigella sativa L. seed

“…In vivo anti-oxidant activities of N. sativa seed oil. In CCl4-induced toxicity, N. sativa oil protected against hepatotoxicity coinciding with improvement in serum lipid profile [51,52], decreasing the elevated serum K and Ca levels, ameliorating the reduced RBC, WBC, PCV, and Hb levels [53,54], decreasing the elevated LPD and liver enzyme levels, and increasing the reduced anti-oxidant enzyme levels [55]. Moreover, treatment with N. sativa oil prevented CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rabbits with improvement of the anti-oxidant status [56].…”

Nigella sativa: Reduces the Risk of Various Maladies

“…Hyperketonemia is another complication arising due to diabetes (Jain et al, 2006). N. sativa treatments resulted in marked elevation in the activities of liver enzymes (El-Dakhakhny et al, 2002;Meral et al, 2003;Kanter et al, 2004;Kaleem et al, 2006).…”