Investigating the Anti-inflammatory Effect of Nigella Sativa in Female Rats with Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and inflammatory disease of the nervous system, and the progression of the disease is associated with an increase in specific cytokines. Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is considered as an animal model for MS, and is used to assess the disease process and therapeutic process. According to studies on the benefits of Nigella sativa, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Nigella sativa on female rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

In this study, 24 adult Lewis female rat (average age of 6 to 8 weeks, weighing 200-220 g) were selected in 4 groups of 6. The control mice received normal saline and the ones with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis received 0/05 cc of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight every other day as intraperitoneal injection. Symptoms of disease and body weight changes were recorded in daily bases. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), nitrate, and body weight changes were recorded daily. After the end of the period (15 days), the production of TNF-α and CRP was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nitrate levels using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The collected data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan tests.

Serum levels of TNF-α, CRP, and nitrate were significantly lower in treatment groups than the control group (P < 0.001).

Because inflammation plays an important role in the process of MS, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and protective effects of the extract of dandelion (200 mg/kg body weight) reduce inflammatory factors and improve inflammatory status in rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.