The hepatoprotective activity of olive oil and Nigella sativa oil against CCl4induced hepatotoxicity in male rats.
BACKGROUND
Liver disease is the major cause of serious health problem leading to morbidity and mortality worldwide and the problem has increased in search for hepatotherapeutic agents from plants. The present study was designed to compare the probable hepatoprotective activity of olive oil and N. sativa oil on CCl4induced liver damage in male rats.


METHODS
Forty males of a new model of albino rats (Wistar strain) (175-205 g) were divided into four groups. The 1st Group (G1) was the negative control group, the remaining rats were injected with CCl4(1 ml/kg body weight) with equal amount of olive oil on the 1st and 4th day of every week for 4 weeks. The 2nd group (G2) was the positive control, the 3rd group (G3) and the fourth group (G4) were treated orally with N. sativa oil and olive oils using stomach tube.


RESULTS
The positive control group showed an increase in hepatic enzymes, total bilirubin, creatinine, uric acid, lipid peroxide total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoproteins, interleukin-6, and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, a decrease in total protein and albumin an when compared with negative control group. Histology of the CCl4treated group revealed inflammation and damage of liver cells. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with olive oil and N. sativa oil showed a significant improvement in all biochemical tests compared with the positive CCl4control group. In addition, the liver tissues of olive oil treated group showed mild improvement in inflammatory infiltration and in N. sativa oil treated group showed normal hepatocytes with no evidence of inflammation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that olive oil and N. sativa oil have a protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats. Nigella sativa oil was more effective than olive oil.
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Madeha N
MN
Al-Seeni
Bioinformatics Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, Sadat City University, Sadat City, Minufiya, Egypt. elrabey@hotmail.com.
Haddad A
HA
El Rabey
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mazin A
MA
Zamzami
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Abeer M
AM
Alnefayee
D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D008055:Lipids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride
CCl4; Hepatoxicity; Nigella sativa; Olive oil