title: Hepatoprotective and immunological functions of Nigella sativa seed oil against hypervitaminosis A in adult male rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The toxic effects of excess vitamin A (VA) intake deserve increased attention. Nigella sativa (NS) seed possesses physiological and pharmacological actions and protects against toxic agents. This work investigated the availability of NS seed oil as a protective agent against the effects of hypervitaminosis A (HVA) on liver function and immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty adult albino rats were used and divided into five groups: (G1) control; (G2) experimental HVA rats administered extreme doses (10,000 IU/kg body weight) of VA oil orally, daily for 6 weeks; (G3) rats treated with NS seed oil (800 mg/kg) orally, daily for 6 weeks; (G4) HVA rats simultaneously treated with NS seed oil at the same doses and periods; and (G5) HVA recovery group. Liver function, immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) levels, and lysosome activity were measured in serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HVA rats revealed marked elevations in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. This is the first study to demonstrate that NS seed oil possesses significant hepatoprotective activity against HVA. NS seed oil was a potent inducer of IgG and IgM in rat serum either alone or with high doses of VA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may be considered the initial steps of the physiological and humoral immune responses for NS seed oil against HVA, but further studies examining longer periods are needed prior to recommending the use of NS seed oil as an alternative medicine for hepatic and immune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology (Physiology), Science College, University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. ealsuhaimi@ud.edu.sa
authors.forename: Ebtesam Abdullah
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Al-Suhaimi
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006986:Hypervitaminosis A / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008247:Lysosomes; D008297:Male; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D029974:Carum
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010938:Plant Oils; D012709:Serum Albumin; C104525:caraway oil; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase