The in vivo investigation of apoptotic effects of Nigella sativa on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity

Nigella sativa commonly known as black seed or black cumin has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Our purpose in this study is to determine the apoptotic effects of black cumin seed oil (N. sativa) on CCl4 induced hepatoxicity via molecular markers. For this aim, four experimental groups were created and each of them was intraperitoneally exposed to CCl4 (G2), CCl4 + black cumin oil (G3) and black cumin oil (G4) except from control (G1). DNA fragmentation, RT-PCR, and caspase-3 assay were carried out. According to our results, a remarkable morphological anointment was observed at the G2. The G3 had the lower fatty comparing to G2. DNA profiles were visualized and DNA fragmentation was only in the G3. PCR results showed that BAX gene expression fairly rose in the G3 and BCL-2 gene expression was only determined in the G2. Decreased caspase-3 in G2, and the increased of it's in G3, clearly supported the activation of the apoptotic pathway for injured cells. Consequently, our results indicated that the increases of caspase and BAX/BCL-2 rates demonstrated that there was an effective molecular mechanism based on black cumin induced apoptosis in rat liver which leads to the release of cytochrome-c from the mitochondria to the cytosol, finally activating caspase-3 and resultant apoptosis.