Comparison between the Efficacy of Nigella Sativa Aqueous Extract and Its Oil on Methimazole-induced Hypothyroidism in Albino Mice

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of both aqueous extract of Nigella sativa and its oil in treating the hypothyroid induced by methimazole in female of white mice in order to determine which one of them is more effective in treating of hypothyroidism, aiming to use it as a natural treatment instead of the chemical treatments which have dangerous side effects. Materials and Methods: The study included 40 female white mice dived into 4 groups 10 mice each one. Group 1 (control): orally administered and treated with distilled water. Group 2 (HYP): orally treated with methimazole at a dose 0.05-mg/kg/ body weight/day for 3 weeks. Group 3 (NSE): the hypothyroidism was induced as in group 2, then treated orally with aqueous Nigella sativa extract at a dose of 400mg/kg/body weight/ day for 4 weeks. Group 4 (NSO): the hypothyroidism was induced as group 2, then treated orally with Nigella sativa oil at a dose of 1 ml/kg/body weight/ day for 4 weeks. Results: This study showed that both NSE and NSO caused a significant decreasing p<0.05 of TSH level and a significant increase of FT3 level. Also, NSO caused increasing of FT4 level, while the increase of FT4 was un-significant under NSE treatment. Conclusions: The efficacy of NSO is higher than the NSE in treating hypothyroidism.