Effect of Nigella Sativa SeedsExtract on The ReproductiveSystemIn Normal and Streptozocin Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which there are high levels of glucose in the blood. Diabetes develops when pancreas, the gland that makes insulin, is either unable to make insulin or the insulin does not work properly or cells not responding to insulin, without enough insulin blood glucose levels rise and lead to health problems. There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes can begin at any age once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow glucose to enter into cells to produce energy. About 85 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is linked to diet, lack of exercise, obesity and family history. If undetected or poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to a shorter life. Diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, reduced blood circulation that may lead to lower limb amputation and can increase the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Men with diabetes also have a higher chance of developing sexual and reproductive health problems including erectile dysfunction, testosterone deficiency, low sexual desire, retrograde ejaculation, poor seminal quality etc. Diabetes can be treated by medicines, diet balance and physical activities. However, plant-derived and herbal remedies continue to be popular alternatives for treatment of diabetes. Nigella sativa is an extensively used herb in Arab medicine and Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of Nigella sativa seed and thymoquinone (major bio-active component of Nigella sativa seed) in the treatment of reproductive dysfunction in streptozocin induced diabetic albino Wister rats. xviii Material and Methods: Laboratory bred adult albino wister rats weighing between 175 - 250gm were used in the study. The acclimatized animals were divided into six groups of six rats each. Group I rats were normal control rats; group II were normal rats treated with Nigella sativa seed powder (300mg/kg body weight), group III were normal rats treated with thymoquionone(4mg/kg body weight), group IV were streptozocin induced diabetic control rats, group V were streptozocin induced diabetic rats treated with Nigella sativa seed powder(300mg/kg body weight) and group VI were streptozocin induced diabetic rats treated with thymoquinone(4mg/kg body weight). The duration of study was 45 days. At the end of 45 days, blood was collected for biochemical parameters such as glucose, insulin, MDA, SOD, Vitamin C & E, total protein and seminal analysis. For the histopathological observations, testicular and epididymal tissues were collected and processed. IAEC was taken and CPESEA guidelines were followed. Results: The diabetic untreated rats showed significant increase in levels of serum glucose and MDA compared with normal control rats. After treatment with Nigella sativa seed powder and thymoquinone in induced diabetic rat groups, the above mentioned parameters were lowered significantly. Levels of Insulin, SOD, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Total proteon and all reproductive parameters (Levels of Testosterone, LH and FSH) were decreased significantly in diabetic untreated group. Sperm count and motility were decreased significantly in diabetic untreated group. After treatment with Nigella sativa seed powder and thymoquinone, the same parameters were increased significantly in induced diabetic rat groups. There was no significant change of any xix parameter between normal control rat group and normal rat groups treated with Nigella sativa seed powder and thymoquinone. Histopathological observations of testis and epididymis of induced diabetic treated rat groups revealed that treatment with Nigella sativa seed powder and thymoquinone reversed the histopathological changes which have been seen in induced diabetic control rats. There were no significant histopathological changes observed between normal control rats and normal rat groups treated with Nigella sativa seed powder and thymoquinone. This indicates non-toxic effect of Nigella sativa seed and thymoquinone. Conclusion: The biochemical parameters and seminal analysis in induced diabetic rats were normalised with treatment of Nigella sativa seed powder and its major bioactive component, thymoquinone. There was no toxic effect observed in normal groups treated with Nigella sativa seed powder and thymoquinone. This observation was supported by non-significant changes in biochemical parameters between normal control rat and normal rat groups treated with Nigella sativa seed and thymoquinone and furthermore supported by histological observations. The biochemical results and histopathological observations clearly showed beneficial effect of Nigella sativa seed powder and thymoquinone in diabetic treated groups. Hence, these phytochemical substances may be considered as antidiabetic agents, favourable to treat reproductive dysfunction in diabetes mellitus as well as beneficial to the overall health of diabetics.