title: Nigella sativa inhibits intestinal glucose absorption and improves glucose tolerance in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae) seeds have been used traditionally for centuries, notably for treating diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the effects of the crude aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds on intestinal glucose absorption in vitro using a short-circuit current technique and in vivo using an oral glucose tolerance test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The aqueous extract of Nigella sativa (0.1 pg/ml to 100 ng/ml) exerted dose-dependent inhibition of sodium-dependent glucose transport across isolated rat jejunum. Maximal inhibition exceeded 80% and IC50 was close to 10 pg/ml. An oral glucose tolerance test was carried out in rats after the initial dose and after a 6-week treatment of Nigella sativa (2 g/(kg day)), and compared to metformin (300 mg/(kg day)). Chronic Nigella sativa treatment improved glucose tolerance as efficiently as metformin. Nigella sativa and metformin also reduced body weight without any toxic effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that Nigella sativa directly inhibits the electrogenic intestinal absorption of glucose in vitro. Together with the observed improvement of glucose tolerance and body weight in rats after chronic oral administration in vivo, these effects further validate the traditional use of Nigella sativa seeds against diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Université Mohammed V-Souissi, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Bouchra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meddah
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducroc
authors.forename: Moulay
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Abbes Faouzi
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eto
authors.forename: Lahcen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mahraoui
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benhaddou-Andaloussi
authors.forename: Louis Charles
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Martineau
authors.forename: Yahia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cherrah
authors.forename: Pierre Selim
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology; D031881:Nigella sativa; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008687:Metformin; D005947:Glucose