Histological Study on the Possible Protective Effect of Nigella Sativa Oil on Experimentally Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats Treated with Sodium Valproate

Nadia M Al-Rouby¹* and Shefaa M Gawish²

¹Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

²Anatomy department, Dubai Medical College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

*Corresponding Author E-mail: nadiaalroby@yahoo.com; Phone: 00971503617646; Fax: 00971-4-2646130

Accepted 21 April, 2013

Abstract

Sodium valproate (depakine, Valproic acid, VPA), a frequently used drug for the treatment of epilepsy, has been used worldwide. However, VPA therapy is responsible for a number of fatal cases of hepatic failure. The mechanism by which VPA causes hepatotoxicity is uncertain. It might be due to failure of antioxidant scavengers. This study was conducted to investigate the possible protective effect of Nigella sativa (NS) oil as an antioxidant in preventing this hepatotoxicity. Thirty two albino rats were divided into four equal groups; control group, NS oil treated group, VPA treated group and VPA+NS oil treated group. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken for estimation of liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, ALT and AST). The liver of all animals was excised and processed for both light and electron microscopic studies. VPA administration in a toxic dose caused significant increase in liver enzymes, microvesicular steatosis and congestion of blood sinusoids. Hepatocytes showed apparent markedly damaged mitochondria, increased lysosomes and dilatation of sER. Rats received VPA and NS oil showed some improvement of these changes. VPA is a hepatotoxic drug and its hepatotoxicity could be minimized by supplementation of NS oil.

Keywords: Valproic acid, liver, Nigella sativa, albino rats.