ABSTRACT
Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the nephroprotective and possible anti-diabetic effects of vitamin E, metformin, and Nigella sativa. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar Albino rats were randomly divided into control, experimental diabetes (DM), vitamin E + DM, Metformin + DM, and N. sativa + DM. For experimental diabetes induction, IP 45 mg/kg streptozotocin was administered. Rats in vitamin E + DM, Metformin + DM, and N. sativa + DM received 100 mg/kg vitamin E, 100 mg/kg metformin, and 2.5 ml/kg N. sativa oil for 56 days. After the experiment, all animals were sacrificed, and blood and kidney samples were collected. Results: The blood urea level of the DM group was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the control group. Urea levels in vitamin E, metformin, and N. sativa groups were similar to the control group (P>0.05) but significantly different from the DM group (P<0.01). Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 immunopositivity intensity were quite low in the control group, and similar to the N. sativa group (P>0.05). Bcl-2 immunopositivity density was highest in the N. sativa group, similar to the control group in terms of percentile area (P>0.05). Conclusion: When all three treatment methods were compared in terms of their effectiveness in alleviating DM and DN, it was determined that the most successful result was obtained with N. sativa oil.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: This study examined the effects of black cumin seed oil treatment on oxidative stress and the expression of radixin and moesin in the liver of experimental diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Eighteen rats were divided into 3 equal groups (control, diabetes, treatment). The control group was not exposed to any experimental treatment. Streptozotocin was administered to the rats in the diabetes and treatment groups. A 2.5 mL/kg dose of black cumin seed oil was administered daily for 56 days to the treatment group. At the conclusion of the experiment, the blood level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) was measured. The expression level and the cellular distribution of radixin and moesin in the liver were analyzed. Results: The plasma MDA (3.05±0.45 nmol/mL) and GSH (78.49±20.45 µmol/L) levels in the diabetes group were significantly different (p<0.01) from the levels observed in the control group (MDA: 1.09±0.31 nmol/mL, GSH: 277.29±17.02 µmol/L) and the treatment group (MDA: 1.40±0.53 nmol/mL, GSH: 132.22±11.81 µmol/L). Immunohistochemistry and western blotting analyses indicated that while the level of radixin was not significantly between the groups (p>0.05) and moesin expression was significantly downregulated (p<0.05) in the experimental group, the treatment was ineffective. Conclusion: The administered dose was sufficient to prevent oxidative stress, but was not sufficient to alleviate the effects of diabetes on moesin expression in hepatic sinusoidal cells.