title: Effects of Nigella sativa L. and Urtica dioica L. on selected mineral status and hematological values in CCl4-treated rats.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Nigella sativa L. (NS), known as black seed, or/and Urtica dioica L. (UD), known as stinging nettle root, treatments on serum Na, K, Cl, and Ca levels and some hematological values of CCl4-treated rats. Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, were randomly allotted into 1 of 4 experimental groups: A (CCl4-only treated), B (CCl4+UD treated), C (CCl4+NS treated), and D (CCl4+UD+NS treated), each containing 15 animals. All groups received CCl4 (0.8 mL/kg of body weight, subcutaneously, twice a week for 90 d starting d 1). In addition, B, C, and D groups also received the daily ip injection of 0.2 mL/kg NS and/or 2 mL/kg UD oils for 45 d starting d 46. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 mL/kg normal saline solution for 45 d starting d 46. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from five randomly chosen rats in each treatment group at the beginning, d 45, and d 90 of the experiment. The CCl4 treatment for 45 d significantly (p<0.05) increased the serum K and Ca and decreased (p<0.05) the red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), and Hb levels without changing (p>0.05) the serum Na and Cl levels. NS or UD treatments (alone or combination) for 45 d starting d 46 significantly (p<0.05) decreased the elevated serum K and Ca levels and also increased (p<0.05) the reduced RBC, WBC, PCV, and Hb levels. It is concluded that NS and/or UD treatments might ameliorate the CCl4-induced disturbances of anemia, some minerals, and body's defense mechanism in CCl4-treated rats.
authors.affiliation: Fizyoloji Anabilim Dali, Veteriner Fakultesi, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi, Kampus, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meral
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood*; D031844:Nigella; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D026982:Urtica dioica
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D008903:Minerals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012964:Sodium; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium