The protective effect of Nigella sativa oil in the brain of the biliary obstructed rats

Oxidative stress is one of the important mechanisms of jaundice induced encephalopathy. The aim of this study was to examine the possible protective effect of Nigella sativa (NS) seed oil against the oxidative stress of brain tissue induced by experimentalobstructive jaundice in rats.BiliarY obstruction was performed in male Wistar albino rats by bile duct ligation and scission (BDL). Intragastric NS oil (1 mg/kg p.o.) or saline was administered for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, in the half of the rats the blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability wasevaluated by Evans blue (EB) extravasation. Other rats were decapitated and brain tissue samples were obtained for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione(GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+,K+-ATPase activities.ChronIC biliary obstruction caused a significant increase in the BBB permeability which was verified by EB extravasation while this effect was attenuated by NS oil treatment. On the other hand, BDL-induced decrease in brain GSH level and Na+,K+-ATPase activity were el-evated back to control level in NS oil-treated BDL group. Increase in tissue MDA level, and MPO activity due to BDL were also attenuated by NS oil treatment.Our results suggest that NS oil treatment protects the brain from oxidative damage following bile duct ligation in rats. This effect possibly involves the inhibition of neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation and the restoration of antioxidant status in the tissue. Accordingly, supplementing cirrhotic patients with adjuvant therapy of NS oil may have some benefit against hepatic encephalopathy