Effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on cisplatin-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress status in male rats

Mahmoud Janloo, Yasin; Attari, Fatemeh Sadat; Roshan, Sahar; Lotfi, Hadi; Pezeshki, Amir Hossein; Hosseinzadeh, Masoud; Shakiba-Jam, Batool; Kafami, Marzieh

doi:10.22038/ajp.2023.22789

Effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on cisplatin-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress status in male rats

Document Type : Short communication

Authors

Yasin Mahmoud Janloo ¹

Fatemeh Sadat Attari ¹

Sahar Roshan ¹

Hadi Lotfi ²

Amir Hossein Pezeshki ³

Masoud Hosseinzadeh ¹

Batool Shakiba-Jam ¹

Marzieh Kafami ⁴

¹ Student Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

² Leishmaniasis Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

³ Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁴ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

10.22038/ajp.2023.22789

Abstract

Objective: Studies have shown the complications of chemotherapy on learning and memory. Empirical evidence suggests that Nigella sativa (NS) has neuroprotective activities. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the effects of NS on cisplatin-induced memory impairment.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 40 male rats grouped as: control (saline: 2 ml/kg, intraperitoneally (IP), once weekly/2 weeks), cisplatin (Cis, 2 mg/kg, IP, once weekly/2 weeks), NS (200 mg/kg, IP, once weekly/2 weeks), Cis +NS 200 (2 mg/kg Cis + 200 mg/kg NS, IP, once weekly/2 weeks), and Cis +NS 400 (2 mg/kg Cis + 400 mg/kg NS, IP, once weekly/2 weeks). Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and thiol and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated in the brain.
Results: Cis significantly enhanced the traveled distance and time spent in the target quadrant in the MWM test. Additionally, MDA levels increased in the Cis group, while thiol and SOD decreased in this group. As a result of treatment with NS, behavioral results were reversed in the groups receiving NS compared to the Cis group. Also, NS reduced MDA level but improved SOD and thiol levels in brain tissue samples.
Conclusion: NS could improve memory impairment and oxidative stress in animals receiving Cis. Therefore, NS could be used as a potential food supplement to prevent neurotoxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Keywords

Nigella sativa

Cisplatin

Memory

Malondialdehyde

Superoxide dismutase

Thiol