Effects of Nimodipine and Nigella sativa on Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Serum and Brain Tissue of Rats with Experimental Head Trauma

Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether Nimodipine (N) and Nigella sativa (NS) oil have protective, antioxidant effects in brain injury caused by experimental head trauma. MATERIAL and METHODS: Fifty albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups that underwent experimental head trauma. Oxidative parameters were compared in the serum and brain tissue of the different groups. In addition, apoptosis and caspase-3 immunoreactivity were evaluated by histopathological examination. RESULTS: Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were significantly increased in N and N+NS groups when compared with controls (p=0.001, p<0.01). Tissue TAS levels were significantly higher in the NS and N+NS groups compared to controls (p=0.001, p<0.01). Total oxidant status levels in the brain tissue were significantly higher in the NS group than in the control group (p=0.021). CONCLUSION: N and NS were shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of oxidative stress in secondary brain injury due to head trauma. We also found that apoptosis levels decreased in response to N, NS and N+NS treatments after head trauma. KEYWORDS: Craniocerebral trauma, Nigella sativa, Nimodipine, Oxidative stress, Apoptosis, Rats