ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessing estrogenic activity of Nigella sativa in ovariectomized rats using vaginal cornification assay
Saadat Parhizkar¹,²,³, Latiffah Abdul Latiff¹,³*, Sabariah Abdul Rahman¹,³, Mohammad Aziz Dollah¹, Hanachi Parichehr4
1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia.
2School of Health, Yasuj University of Health and Medical Sciences, Iran.
3Institute of Biosciences, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia.
4Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Biochemistry unit, Alzahra University, Iran.
Accepted 14 April, 2018
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the estrogenic activity of Nigella sativa (NS) by vaginal cornification assay using an ovariectomized rat model. Forty ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats, weighting 250 to 350 g were used in the study. N. sativa powders were administered to ovariectomized rats for 21 consecutive days at dosages of 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg respectively, and were compared with each of daily treatment with 0.2 mg/kg conjugated Equine estrogen as positive control or distilled water as negative control. Vaginal smears were taken to observe the estrogenic effect on vaginal epithelium of rats. The vaginal smear showed an atrophic pattern at baseline. The occurrence of vaginal cornification after N. sativa supplementation indicated estrogenic activity of N. sativa, but this effect was not as much as CEE. The most influence of N. sativa in vaginal cornification was observed in low dose NS that this result was in agreement with serum Estradiol level of this group. The cornified cells percentage significantly differed from control group (P<0.05). These data suggest that N. sativa possesses estrogenic function in the ovariectomized rat model which can be helpful in managing menopausal symptoms as an alternative for Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Key words: Nigella sativa, vaginal cytology assay, ovariectomized rats, estrogenic activity.