ACUTE AND SUB-CHRONIC TOXICITY STUDY OF NIGELLA DAMASCENA METHANOLIC SEED EXTRACT IN MICE

Abstract

Nigella damascena is an herbaceous annual plant used in Oriental herbal medicine for the treatment of catarrhal affections, amenorrhea and as a diuretic; powdered seeds are used as sternutatory.  No systematic study of the potential toxicity of the plant has been described. This study aimed to determine the toxicity profile of methanolic seed extract from Nigella damascena in mice. In acute and sub-chronic toxicity study, a total of 42 adult male Swiss albino mice wereused. No mortality or abnormal behavior were observed in acute toxicity study at oral doses of 1, 2 and 5g/kg. In sub-chronic toxicity study when working at 100 and 400mg/kg respectively, no significant differences were observed concerning glucose, cholesterol, bilirubine, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, total protein or albumin parameters. In the same manner, no histopathological alterations had been observed in the kidney and liver structures.