The Effect of Nigella Sativa L. Seeds on Certain Aspects of Carbohydrates and Key Hepatic Enzymes in Serum of Rat

In rats, an aqueous extract of the seeds of Nigella sativa was administered orally under light ether anesthesia for 7 and 14 days. Blood glucose, insulin level and key hepatic enzyme concentrations in serum an histopathological changes in the liver in both treatment groups for 7 and 14 days were compared with a control group which received normal saline under identical conditions for 14 days and with a group of normal animals. The data obtained indicate that blood glucose level exhibited significant decreases in both treatment groups after 7 and 14 days. Significant increases were recorded in insulin level in serum especially after 7 days post-treatment. Serum glutamate pyruvic acid transaminase (SGPT) concentrations were significantly higher following administration of N. sativa for 7 and 14 days when compared with the normal group but not when compared with the control group. On the other hand, serum glutamate oxaloacetic acid transaminase (SGOT) concentrations were not significantly different from one another. Serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase concentrations were significantly increased in both extract groups while serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations did not have a significant effect in both treatment groups after 7 and 14 days.
Histopathological examination of livers showed no evidence of degenerative changes following administration of N. sativa.