Protective effects of Black cumin (Nigella sativa Linn.) extract against cisplatin hepatotoxicity in rats

Cisplatin as an important anti-cancer drug is a potent hepatotoxicant. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of ethanolic extract of Black cumin (Nigella sativa Linn.) against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in the rats. 40 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups. Group 1 was used as control; groups 2 and 4 were orally treated with ethanolic extract of Black cumin (250 mg/kg) for 15 consecutive days. Groups 3 and 4 received a single intraperitoneal dose of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) on the 10th day of the experiment. At the end of experiment, serumic levels of aspartate and alanine transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase and total bilirubin, albumin and total proteins were assessed. Malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were assayed in liver homogenates. For histopathological evaluation, tissue samples were obtained from the livers and histologic sections were prepared by routine H&E staining method. Finally, the biochemical findings were matched with histopathological verification. In group 4, ethanolic extract of Black cumin significantly decreased the elevated levels of serum biomarkers of hepatic injury and total bilirubin, and significantly increased the reduced levels of serum albumin and total proteins. In this group, ethanolic extract of Black cumin significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation and elevated the decreased values of hepatic antioxidants. Histopathologically, the changes were in agreement with biochemical findings. Treatment with Black cumin extract considerably inhibited the pathological changes in the rat liver tissue and only visible damage was slight cytoplasmic vacuolation of hepatocytes especially around the central vein. The results of this study showed that, ethanolic extract of Black cumin, because of its anti-oxidant potential, exerts a protective effect against cisplatin induced hepatotoxicity in rats.