Abstract Black seed, or Nigella sativa , is famous for its therapeutic properties, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. The study aimed to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic benefits of N. sativa seeds, oil, and its active component, thymoquinone, on diabetic rats that have been streptozotocin-induced. Vehicle (healthy control), STZ (diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin at 55 mg/kg), STZ + NSS (5 % aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds was administered to diabetic rats), STZ + NSO (0.2 mL/kg of N. sativa oil was administered to diabetic rats), and STZ + TQ (50 mg/kg of thymoquinone was administered to diabetic rats) were the five groups ( N = 10) of the experimental design. All treatments were given daily via gavage for 28 days. The STZ group weighed the least after 28 days (177.27 g), while the STZ + NSO (260.16 g) and STZ + TQ (264.21 g) groups significantly improved and remained close to the vehicle group (288.81 g). In contrast to the increased readings in the diabetic group, the STZ + TQ group showed the biggest improvements in insulin levels (9.10 ng/mL) and glucose regulation (BGL 152.21 mg/dL, FBG 161.10 mg/dL, OGTT 152.47 mg/dL). In terms of HDL (36.95, 43.01 mg/dL), LDL (55.12, 67.19 mg/dL), triglycerides (55.06, 75.44 mg/dL), and cholesterol (112.65, 133.58 mg/dL), the STZ + TQ group was similar to the vehicle group. STZ + NSS had the highest levels of TNF-α (25.87 pg/mL), IL-6 (33.23 pg/mL), and CRP (6.66 mg/L) among N. sativa treatments. The diabetic group had the lowest SOD (14.12 U/mg), CAT (28.02 U/mg), and TAC (0.47 mmol/L) activity and the highest urea (45.36 mg/dL), creatinine (1.01 mg/dL), and MDA (9.12 nmol/mg) levels. In contrast, the STZ + TQ and STZ + NSO groups had similar values for the majority of the parameters, suggesting that thymoquinone and N. sativa oil have strong protective effects. The findings of N. sativa especially oil and thymoquinone showed an opportunity as natural diabetes treatments by effectively preventing diabetes in rats by enhancing metabolic, antioxidant, and inflammatory indicators.
Abushal et al. (Thu,) studied this question.