Modulation of Micro and Macro Element Concentrations Following Acute and Chronic Administration of Nigella Sativa Oil on Rat Body Tissues

Abstract

Medicinal plants have long been in use to cure variety of diseases and aliments as folk medicines. Nigella sativa (N. sativa), a plant of Ranunculaceae fami ly has come out as a miracle herb. In general, seeds ofN. sativa are used to cure a variety of disorders and diseases of the respiratory system, digestive tract, kidney and liver function, cardio vascular system, antihistaminic, antidiabetic, and anti inflammatory activities. Micro-elements like iron, copper, cobalt, potassium, magnesium, iodine, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, fluoride , chromium, se lenium and sulfur are assoc iated with tissue, ce llular and subce llular functions and a lso communicate with vitami ns and macro-elements to run normal physiological functions of the body. The macro-elements include calcium, phosphorus, sodium and ch loride, initiate the production of hormones and facilitates the metabolic processes, generation of e lectricity, nerve cond uction and also regulate the gene expression. Elemental concentrations of the body are a lthough very we ll-known and the effects as a result of their deficiency or access are a lso very we ll established but the role of common herbs like Nigella sativa on elemental concentrations has not been reported. The current study was carried out to investigate the effect of Nigella sativa oi l on micro and macro e lement concentrations using rats as a model system through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Two experiments were designed, acute for 24 hrs and chronic for 60 days. In total Eight groups were formu lated. Experimenta l groups were administered 60mllkg and 120ml/kg of Nigella sativa oi l. Control groups (0.5 ml distilled water) were run alongside. Anima ls were dissected on the day stated for each experiment; blood was taken directly from the heart and, brain, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, sma ll intesti ne, kidney, muscle and skin tissues were quickly removed to prepare digests for the detection of micro and macro e lements concentration. Data are presented as mean± SEM (standard error of mean) and comparisons between control and treatment groups were made through one-way analysis of variance (ANOY A). P < 0.05 was considered statisticall y significant difference. Acute admin istration of low dose (60ml/kg) Nigella sativa for 24 hI's led to a sign ificant increase of Fe in the blood (p < 0.00 I), Mg in liver, intestine and kidney (p < 0.001), K in brain (p < 0.001). Whereas, administration ofthe same dose showed significant decrease in Cu concentration in liver and kidney (p < 0.00 I), Mn in blood, skin, lungs, liver, stomach, intestine (p < 0.001), Ni in brain, blood, heart, muscle, skin, lungs, liver, stomach and intestine (p < 0.001), Na in skin (p < 0.001), Ca in brain, blood, heart, muscle, skin, lungs, liver, stomach and kidney (p < 0.001), and Cr in all ofthe organs (p < 0.00 I). The high dose (l20ml/kg) showed significant decrease in the Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, and Ni concentration in all of the organs (p < 0.001); Na in blood, skin and lungs (p < 0.001), while Ca in skin (p < 0.001). Whereas, administration of the same dose showed significant increase in Fe in the liver (p < 0.001), Mg in brain and liver (p < 0.001), Ca in brain, heart, lungs and intestine (p < 0.001), while K increased in all of the organs (p < 0.001). Chronic administration of low dose of Nigella sativa for 60 days led to a significant increase in Zn in the heart (p < 0.001), Cu in stomach and intestine (p < 0.001), Mn in intestine (p < 0.001), Ni in brain, heart, lungs and kidney (p < 0.001), Na in brain, heart, muscle, skin, lungs, stomach and kidney (p < 0.001), Mg in brain, blood, heart, muscle, skin, liver, stomach, intestine and kidney (p < 0.001), while Ca in brain, heart, lungs, liver, stomach, intestine and kidney tissues (p < 0.001). Whereas, administration of the same dose showed significant decrease in the Cu in lungs (p < 0.001), Cr in brain, blood, heart, muscle, lungs, liver, stomach and kidney (p < 0.001), Ni in muscle, skin, liver, stomach and intestine (p < 0.001). The high dose showed significant increase in the Cu in stomach and intestine (p < 0.001), Ni in brain, blood, heart, lungs and kidney (p < 0.001), K in skin (p < 0.001), while Na, Mg, Ca increased in all of the organs (p < 0.001). In contrast, same dose showed significant decrease in Fe concentration of brain, heart, skin, lungs, stomach and intestine (p < 0.001), Zn in blood and muscle (p < 0.001), Cu in blood, skin and lungs (p < 0.001), Mn in brain, blood, muscle, liver and kidney (p < 0.001), Ni in muscle, skin, liver, stomach and intestine (p < 0.001), while Cr in all of the organs (p < 0.001). The current study concludes that the oil of Nigella sativa seeds profoundly alters tissue macro and microelement concentrations, whereby the concentrations of some elements were decreased while others showed significant increased. This indicates that mobilization of elements from or into different body tissues. This necessitates that further investigations should be done in order to understand by which physiological mechanism(s) Nigella oil could have employed. Furthermore, the study implicates that Nige lla o il can be used as a remedia l measure to restore certain minerals in the body or to ame liorate the effects of overloading by certain elements, thus acting as a best therapeutic agent to restore the body's mineral content.