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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2008; 14(33): 5204-5209
Published online Sep 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5204
Nigella sativa relieves the deleterious effects of ischemia reperfusion injury on liver
Fahrettin Yildiz, Sacit Coban, Alpaslan Terzi, Mustafa Ates, Nurten Aksoy, Hale Cakir, Ali Riza Ocak, Muharrem Bitiren
Fahrettin Yildiz, Alpaslan Terzi, Harran University Medical Faculty, Department of General Surgery, Sanli Urfa 63300, Turkey
Sacit Coban, Gaziantep University Medical Faculty, Department of General Surgery, Gaziantep, 27310, Turkey
Mustafa Ates, Malatya State Hospital Department of General Surgery, Malatya 44100, Turkey
Nurten Aksoy, Hale Cakir, Ali Riza Ocak, Harran University Medical Faculty, Department of Biochemistry, Sanli Urfa 63300, Turkey
Muharrem Bitiren, Harran University Medical Faculty Department of Pathology, Sanli Urfa 63300, Turkey
Author contributions: Yildiz F, Coban S and Terzi A contributed equally to this work; Yildiz F, Coban S, Terzi A and Ates M designed research; Yildiz F, Coban S and Terzi A performed research; Aksoy N, Cakir H and Ocak AR analyzed biochemical data; Bitiren M evaluated the histopathology, and Yildiz F wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Fahrettin Yildiz, Assistant Professor, Harran University Medical Faculty, Department of General Surgery, Sanliurfa 63300, Turkey. fahrettinyildiz@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-414-3148410 Fax: +90-414-3148410
Received: July 14, 2008
Revised: August 18, 2008
Accepted: August 25, 2008
Published online: September 7, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To determine whether Nigella sativa prevents hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury to the liver.

METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into three groups as sham (Group 1), control (Group 2), and Nigella sativa (NS) treatment group (Group 3). All rats underwent hepatic ischemia for 45 min followed by 60 min period of reperfusion. Rats were intraperitoneally infused with only 0.9% saline solution in group 2. Rats in group 3 received NS (0.2 mL/kg) intraperitoneally, before ischemia and before reperfusion. Blood samples and liver tissues were harvested from the rats, and then the rats were sacrificed. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in hepatic tissue were measured. Also liver tissue histopathology was evaluated by light microscopy.

RESULTS: The levels of liver enzymes in group 3 were significantly lower than those in the group 2. TAC in liver tissue was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2. TOS, OSI and MPO in hepatic tissue were significantly lower in group 3 than the group 2. Histological tissue damage was milder in the NS treatment group than that in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Nigella sativa treatment protects the rat liver against to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Keywords: Nigella sativa; Ischemia reperfusion injury; Liver