Therapeutic effect of Nigella sativa extract on folic acid-induced acute hepatorenal injury: influences and underlying mechanisms

Abstract

Nigella sativa is utilized to treat many ailments and to maintain and improve global health as it has numerous pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimetastatic, anxiolytic, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory. We tried to assess the disorders in the liver, the main organ for folate metabolism, and the kidney in response to high-dose folic acid (HDFA) supplementation, and we tested if the herbal Nigella sativa extract (NSE) could alter these disturbances and the likely underlying mechanisms. Eighteen adult male rats were separated into three groups: Control, HDFA and HDFA+NSE. Both kidney and liver dysfunctions induced by HDFA administration significantly improved by NSE which was supported by histological examination. Thus, NSE being an ample source of antioxidants has a hepatorenal protecting effect.