In Vivo Subacute Toxicity and Antidiabetic Effect of Aqueous Extract of Nigella sativa

Abstract

Context. Nigella sativa seeds are usually used as traditional medicine for a wide range of therapeutic purposes. Objective. To investigate the subacute toxicity of NS aqueous extract and select its lowest dose to study its antidiabetic effect. Methods. 5 AqE.NS doses (2, 6.4, 21, 33, and 60 g/Kg) were daily administered to mice by gavage. Biochemical parameters measurements and histological study of the liver and the kidney were performed after 6 weeks of supplementation. Thereafter, and after inducing diabetes by alloxan, rats were treated by 2 g/Kg of AqE.NS during 8 weeks. Metabolic parameters were measured on sera. A horizontal electrophoresis of plasmatic lipoprotein was conducted. Glycogen, total lipids, and triglycerides were measured in the liver. TBARS were evaluated on adipose tissue, liver, and pancreas. Results. AqE.NS showed no variation in urea and albumin at the 5 doses, but hepatotoxicity from 21 g/Kg was confirmed by histopathological observations of the liver. In diabetic rats, AqE.NS significantly decreased glycemia, TG, T-cholesterol, LDL-c, and TBARS and showed a restored insulinemia and a significant increase in HDL-c. Results on the liver indicated a decrease in lipids and a possible glycogenogenesis. Conclusion. AqE.NS showed its safety at low doses and its evident antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and antioxidant effect.

Hepatic adverse drug reactions in Malaysia: An 18‐year review of the national centralized reporting system

“…61 In addition, black seed was found to exhibit dose-dependent hepatotoxicity from several studies. 62,63 Pomegranate's hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties are linked with punicalagin, a type of hydrolysable tannin. 64 Punicalagin is believed to cause fatal pomegranate-induced hepatotoxicosis in steers, but short-term use of pomegranate extract with moderate polyphenol concentrations among healthy human volunteers did not demonstrate significant hepatotoxicity.…”

Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin): A Promising Natural Remedy for Wide Range of Illnesses

“…On the other hand, 2 and 3 mice experienced death at 3rd and 5th weeks while they received 21 g/kg and 60 g/kg of the extract, respectively. Otherwise, no other deaths were recorded for the application of other doses used [150]. In addition, the subchronic toxicity study in mice treated with 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg/day of TQ for 90 days resulted in no mortality or signs of toxicity but substantial decrement of fasting plasma glucose and also showed no change in toxicological significance in body organs and histological investigation [149].…”

Effect of Nigella sativa oil supplement on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…Another systematic review and meta‐analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials reported that N. sativa significantly decreased serum lipids level (total cholesterol, LDL, and TG), whereas HDL‐C increased only in powdered form (Sahebkar, Beccuti, Simental‐Mendía, Nobili, & Bo, 2016). Moreover, animal studies have shown that N. sativa supplements could improve inflammation and reduce oxidative stress in diabetic rats (Al Wafai, 2013; Bensiameur‐Touati, Kacimi, Haffaf, Berdja, & Aouichat‐Bouguerra, 2017).…”