Effect of Nigella sativa on reproductive system in experimental menopause rat model

Abstract

Objective: Menopause is the condition when regular menstrual periods cease and may be accompanied by psychological and physical symptoms. The purpose of current study was to determine <em>Nigella sativa</em> effects on reproductive system in experimental menopause animal models. <br/>Materials and Methods: A series of experiments wasconducted to investigate the effects of different dosages of <em>N. sativa</em> (first experiment), various extracts of <em>N. sativa</em> (second experiment)and some of its ingredients (third experiment) on selected menopausal parameters of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty different OVX rats were equally divided into 5 groups and administered with one of the following treatments for 21 days: conjugated equine estrogen (positive control), distilled water or olive oil (negative control), treatment groups (<em>N. sativa</em>300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg in the first experiment), (300mg/kg methanol, hexane and SFE extracts of <em>N. sativa</em> in the second experiment) and (linoleic acid 50 mg/kg, gamma linolenic acid 10mg/kg, and thymoquinone 15mg/kg in the third experiment). <br/>Results: The results demonstrated that <em>N.sativa</em> exert estrogenic effect were exhibited through uterotrophic assay and vaginal cell cornification as well as blood estrogen level. Furthermore, low dose <em>N. sativa</em>, methanol extract and linoleic acid had prominent estrogenic like effects which were significantly different from those of control group (p<0.05) in different experiments. <br/>Conclusion: The finding indicated the probable beneficial role for <em>N. sativa</em> in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms and possibility of using <em>N. sativa</em> as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for post menopause in human.