Abstract
Background: Liver disease constitutes a public health problem at the global level. This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the total oil’s unsaponifiable fraction (UF) of a medicinal plant called Nigella sativa.
Methods: The extraction of unsaponifiables from the total seed oil of the medicinal plant Nigella sativa was carried out according to the standardized methods of the European Pharmacopoeia (Edition 5.0). Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is hepatotoxic with mandatory and predictable action of the indirect type. Acute poisoning of Male albino rats with 1:1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 and olive oil (3 ml/Kg b.w. of rat by subcutaneous injection) induces considerable liver pain.
Results: Nigella sativa UF is found to be rich in tocopherols; its administration as a curative or preventive treatment to poisoned animals results in a very significant reduction in transaminases (ALT, AST) and ALP. Histological study shows that livers are in better condition than those of intoxicated rats. The statute of enzymes and antioxidant molecules (SOD, CATA, GSH, MDA) has significantly improved.
Conclusion: Measurable biological evidence has been given to the use of such extract as effective substances against hepatic diseases.
Keywords: CCl4, hepatoprotective activity, Nigella sativa, oxidative stress, total oil, unsaponifiable fraction.
Graphical Abstract
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