Nigella sativa seeds attenuate the hepatic histoarchitectural changes induced by Pyrazinamide

Introduction: Though highly effective as an anti-tuberculosis drug, Pyrazinamide has a notable side effect of causing hepatic toxicity and damaging the liver architecture. Nigella sativa has been shown to have hepatoprotective effects and should be tested against Pyrazinamide induced liver damage. Objective: To determine the protective role of Nigella sativa (NS) seeds in preserving the hepatic histoarchitectural changes induced by Pyrazinamide (PZA) in mice. Materials & Methods: It was a laboratory based randomized control trial conducted on forty male albino mice divided into 4 groups (n = 10). Group-I served as control. Group-II was given 500mg/kg PZA. Group-III and Group-IV was given Nigella sativa seeds powder 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg respectively along with 500mg/kg PZA. All the animals were treated once daily for six weeks. Animals were then dissected after 24 hours of the last dose and liver samples were obtained for histopathological evaluation. Assessment of liver damage (histological grading) was done by using the Batts-Ludwig system. Data were analyzed by SPSS 23 for descriptive and comparative statistics, keeping p≤0.05 as significant. Results: PZA caused moderate to severe liver damage in mice characterized by presence of parenchymal inflammation, slight edema of hepatocytes, vascular congestion, vascular dilatation, periportal and portal inflammation and few scattered areas of necrosis. NS seeds preserve normal hepatic histoarchitecture in dose dependent fashion. Conclusion: Concomitant administration of Nigella sativa seeds attenuate the hepatic histoarchitectural changes induced by pyrazinamide in dose dependent manner.