Research Article HEPATO-PROTECTIVE ROLE OF THE AQUEOUS AND N-HEXANE EXTRACTS OF NIGELLA SATIVA LINN. IN EXPERIMENTAL LIVER DAMAGE IN RATS

Objective: Liver disease is associated with the formation of oxygen derived free radicals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as nitrogen species are responsible for nuclear DNA fragmentation and cell death. The active principle of thymoquinone (TQ) of Nigella sativa acts as a scavenger of superoxide anion. The current study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Nigella sativa on rats. Methods: The study was carried out at prime postgraduate medical University of Bangladesh. Liver damage and oxidative stress were evaluated by measuring serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and hepatic Glutathione (GSH) levels. Aqueous extract of Nigella sativa and n-hexane extract of Nigella sativa were administered orally into two groups of rat through intra-gastric tube for 28 days. Both th