Isulinotropic properties of Nigella sativa oil in Streptozotocin plus Nicotinamide diabetic hamster

• Published in: Research in veterinary science 2002-12, Vol.73 (3), p.279-282
• Main Authors: Fararh, K.M, Atoji, Y, Shimizu, Y, Takewaki, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Cricetinae; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Immunohistochemistry; Insulin - blood; Insulin - metabolism; Male; Mesocricetus; Niacinamide - administration & dosage; Pancreas - metabolism; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Streptozocin - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/S0034-5288(02)00108-X

The present study was designed to investigate the possible insulinotropic properties of Nigella sativa L. ( N. sativa) oil in Streptozotocin plus Nicotinamide-induced diabetes mellitus in hamsters. Nicotinamide was injected intraperitoneally 15 min before injection of Streptozotocin intravenously. Oral treatment with N. sativa oil began 4 weeks after induction of diabetes. Serum insulin was measured by enzymeimmunoassay. Islets insulin was stained using anti-insulin monoclonal antibody. Significant decrease in blood glucose level together with significant increase in serum insulin level were observed after treatment with N. sativa oil for 4 weeks. Big areas with positive immuno-reactivity for the presence of insulin were observed in the pancreases from N. sativa oil-treated group compared to non-treated one using immunohistochemical staining. Therefore, our data show that the hypoglycemic effect of N. sativa oil in Streptozotocin plus Nicotinamide diabetic hamsters resulted, at least partly, from a stimulatory effect on β cell function with consequent increase in serum insulin level. These results indicate that N. sativa oil has insulinotropic properties in type 2-like model.