Potential Effect of Nigella Sativa Tablets on Fatty Liver Disease in Rats

Abstract

Objective: This prospective study was conducted to explore the effects of crushed seeds of Nigella savita dietary supplementation on fatty liver disease in rats.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 16-18 months male Sprague dawley rats weighing 150-170 gm. Animals were randomly assigned into three (03) groups; Group-I served as (Control group, C) received standard diet; Group-II served as (Liver Fatty group, F) that received diets having high % age of fructose (60% fructose w/w), Group-III (Fatty liver/Nigella sativa F/NS), fed fructose diet along with Nigella sativa tablets (1.6g/kg diet) to get daily intake of Nigella sativa at rate 170 mg/kg body weight. The daily food intake and weekly body weight of the animals were recorded. After receiving respective drugs for 06 weeks following parameters such as Therapy; Body Mass index (BMI Body weight final), total cholesterol,  liver weight, LDL-C, HDL-C, vLDL-C, serum glucose, Adiponectin, bilirubin, insulin, AST, ALT and TNF-, were measured. HOMA-R calculation was used to determine insulin resistance. Furthermore, kidneys, livers and brains histopathalogical examination was also taken out.

Results: The weight of visceral body fat increased significantly in group II (F group) compared to group I (C group), but it dropped significantly in group III (F/NS group) compared to group II (F group). The serum level of glucose, HOMA-R, bilirubin, LDL-c, TNF-, vLDL-c, AST, ALT and insulin level significantly increased in both F and F/NS groups and a significant decrease in serum adeponectin level occurred as compared to C group. However, the serum levels of adeponectin increased in the F/NS group compared to the F group, and there was a substantial drop in glucose insulin, total cholesterol, HOMA-R, TNF-, LDL-c, vLDL-c, AST, ALT, and bilirubin. Histopathological examination of F group indicates vascular congestion in kidney and liver, renal tubular necrosis, hepatocytes and localized cerebral haemorrhage while the histology appearance in the F/NS group was nearly normal.

Conclusion: Animals receiving crushed tablets of Nigella sativa along with fructose diet produced significant attenuation in level of total cholesterol, serum glucose, insulin, TNF-α, LDL-c, HOMA-R, AST, bilirubin and ALT and a significant rise in adiponectin level in fatty liver disease in old tested animals.