ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF Nigella sativa IN STZ-INDUCED DIABETIC MALE RATS

The present study was aimed to find out the protective effect of Nigella sativa as thymoquinone-rich fraction (TQRF) administration on lipid peroxidation (LPO), activities of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes, and gene expression and activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6pd) of the pancreas in streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats. Experimental diabetes was The rats were accordingly divided into 2 groups (controlled) were fed on each group = 6 rats, and treatment groups divided into 3 groups were fed on each group =6: Group 1(I): Positive control, Received orally 5 ml normal saline (0.9% NaCl) daily; Group 2(II): Negative control, Diabetes rats only, received STZ in a single dose (60 mg/kg i.p.); Group 3(III): Treatment groups TQRF emulsion at three doses(0.5, 1, and 1.5) g/kg body wt, respectively. The data of our study showed that a significant dose-dependent increase occurred by the (TQRF) in rat diabetes. that occurred in increase glutathione (GSH) levels, which represent a marker of oxidative stress and reduce lipid peroxidation (LPO) along with long-term Nigella sativa overload. The expression and activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6pd), were significantly affected increase by the presence of Nigella sativa. Oxidative stress was found to be an inducer of diabetes in this animal model, and food supplements for Nigella sativa are thought to be effective in mitigating it.