The present study aimed to clarify the antidiabetic activity of Nigella sativa (N.S.) aqueous extract on diabetic adult male albino rats. Rats were divided into three groups; the first served as control group, the second and third groups were injected with a single dose of alloxan (120 mg/kg body weight) and after 7 days of treatment the animals of the third group were treated with daily doses of water extract Nigella sativa (0.01mg/100 g b. wt). After 30 days of treatment half of each group was sacrificed and the other half was left for 15 days more without any additional treatment (as a recovery period). The obtained results revealed significant decrease in body weight gain and significant increase in blood glucose level of diabetic rats with different histological changes in the cells of islets of Langerhans. These histological and physiological changes were ameliorated in rats treated with Nigella sativa (N.S.). Water extract of Nigella sativa showed a significant hypoglycemic and hyperinsulinimic effect. On the other hand, a significant increase in body weight, β-cell number and liver glycogen content were achieved in comparison with diabetic rats. The results of the present study clarify the role of Nigella sativa as an active antidiabetic plant and suggest a limit relationship between drenching Nigella sativa extract and insulin production.
Key words: Nigella sativa, diabetic, blood glucose, body weight, liver glycogen content, insulin, rats.
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