Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, vol.3, no.2, pp.132-137, 2010 (Scopus)
Aim. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Nigella sativa (NS) in experimental
bacterial rhinosinusitis.
Material and Methods. Bacterial rhinosinusitis was induced with Staphylococcus aureus. Rabbits
were divided into control, NS 50, NS 100 and NS 200 mg/kg/d groups. NS was given orally for 7 days.
The same volume of normal saline was given as a vehicle to the control group for the same period.
At 7 days post-treatment, mucosal samples were excised from the treated and control groups for
measurements of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), myeloperoxidase
(MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA).
Results. SOD and GSH-Px activities significantly increased in the NS 50, NS 100 and NS 200 mg/kg/
d groups when compared with the saline treated group. MPO activity and MDA levels significantly
decreased in the NS 50, NS 100 and NS 200 mg/kg/d when compared with the saline treated group.
Conclusion. These findings show that administration of NS increased the SOD, GSH-Px activities
and decreased the lipid peroxidation and MPO activity in experimental rhinosinusitis in rabbits. NS
prevented oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species generated in rhinosinusitis model
in rabbits.