LAUSR

BACKGROUND: Diethylnitrosamine is a carcinogenic chemical found in food unintendedly and also in different media such as cosmetics. Nigella sativa plant has anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study is to investigate effect of thymoquinone -one of the active ingredients of Nigella sativaon erythrocyte fragility in diethylnitrosamine administered rats. METHODS: 28 male Wistar-albino rats were divided into four groups; Control group (Saline/5 days, i.p.), thymoquinone group (4 mg/kg/5 days/p.o.), diethylnitrosamine group (Saline/5 days, i.p. and diethylnitrosamine 200 mg/kg/i.p. in two consecutive days) and diethylnitrosamine + thymoquinone group (4 mg/kg/5 days thymoquinone p.o. and diethylnitrosamine 200 mg/kg/i.p. in two consecutive days). Erythrocyte fragility, hemoglobin and hematocrit counts were performed. RESULTS: Number of erythrocytes was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in diethylnitrosamine administered group (9.05 × 106/mm3) compared to control (7.44 × 106/mm3) and thymoquinone (7.75 × 106/mm3). Hematocrit value was significantly higher in diethylnitrosamine group (52.47%) compared to control (44.75%) and thymoquinone groups (46.21%) (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin value was higher in the diethylnitrosamine administered groups (18.43 and 17.63 g/dL in diethylnitrosamine and thymoquinone + diethylnitrosamine groups respectively) compared to groups without diethylnitrosamine administration (15.15 and 15.87 g/dL in control and thymoquinone groups respectively) (p < 0.05). Mch was found significantly higher in thymoquinone+diethylnitrosamine group (p < 0.05). No significant difference in erythrocyte fragility was observed among groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Augmentation in erythrocyte, hemoglobin and hematocrit count due to diethylnitrosamine administration and a slight reversal due to thymoquinone administration were observed without statistical significance.