Protective effect of Nigella sativa seeds against spermatocyte chromosomal aberrations and genotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice

Nigella sativa is a well-known dietary antioxidant and a valuable inhibitor of clastogenesis and carcinogenesis. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effects of N. sativa seeds against chromosomal aberrations in primary spermatocytes and early embryonic lethality induced by CCl4 hepatotoxin in Swiss albino mice. One hundred male Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into five groups. Groups I, II, and III received only normal saline, olive oil, and aqueous suspension of N. sativa seeds (50 mg/kg b.w.), while groups IV and V were orally given CCl4 dissolved in olive oil at a dose level of 1.9 (1/4 LD50) alone and with aqueous suspension of N. sativa seeds (50 mg/kg b.w.) alternately. Aqueous extract of N. sativa significantly reduced the elevated frequency of chromosomal aberrations induced by CCl4 in mouse primary spermatocytes. For the male-dominant lethal test, four males from each group (control and experimental) were used and each male was mated for 13 days to two untreated virgin females. On days 14-16 after breeding, all the females were evaluated for incidence of pregnancy, live implants, and fetal deaths. Treatment with 1/4 LD50 of CCl4 induced positive dominant lethal mutation, reflecting a high rate of deformations in male germ cells. Interestingly, no dominant lethal mutations were recorded in females mated to male mice treated with CCl4 plus N. sativa. Under the experimental conditions of this study, our results highlight the beneficial role of N. sativa against CCl4-induced mutagenicity.