ABSTRACT It has been reported that Nigella sativa seeds and volatile oil possess hapatoprotictive effects in some models of chemicals induced hepatotoxicity. The hapatoprotictive effects of Nigella sativa against viral induced hepatic damage has not been studied. This study aims to investigate the protective effects of Nigella sativa against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Albino rats were used for this study as experimental animals. The rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: Negative control, Positive control and Test group. Each group contained 6 animals. Each rats of the positive control and test group rats was injected intramuscularly with 0.6 ml of human serum contains HBV and left for 8 weeks, but test group rats were pre-fed with 0.01 g of the Nigella sativa for two weeks individually, and fed with Nigella sativa for 8 weeks after injection with the virus. Blood samples were collected from rats and investigated for hepatitis HBV markers and liver enzyme levels. The result of hepatitis markers was positive for HBsAg and HBeAg in the positive control group and negative for both negative and test groups. AntiHBs however, was positive in test group and negative in both positive and negative control groups. Liver function examination showed significantly low level of ALT an AST enzymes in both negative control and test group comparing to the positive control group. In conclusion, Nigella sativa seeds appeared to be safe and possibly protective against viral induced hepatitis B.
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