Long-term effects of Nigella sativa L. oil on some physiological parameters in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The long-term effects of Nigella sativa L. oil on some physiological parameters were investigated in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant increases in the levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), uric acid, urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) while high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) and total protein levels were significantly decreased compared to normal rats. Administration of black seed oil to diabetic rats resulted in a significant decrease in blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL–cholesterol ALT, AST and uric acid while HDL–cholesterol level was markedly increased compared to untreated diabetic rats after seven weeks of treatment. The results of this study indicate that the diet containing the oil of N. sativa improves the examined physiological parameters in STZ-induced diabetic rats especially when it is used for a longer period.