Safeguarding the heart: Nigella sativa (Black Seed) oil mitigates Levofloxacin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. An integrated histological and biochemical assessment
Abstract
Background:
Levofloxacin (LEVO) is a commonly used, broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is crucial for treating severe bacterial diseases. Despite its efficacy, emerging evidence links it to potential cardiotoxic effects, including rare but severe cases of myocardial injury. This underscores a critical need for effective adjunctive protective strategies. Nigella sativa (Black Seed) oil (NSO), a revered medicinal plant extract, possesses well-documented potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, primarily attributed to its major bioactive constituent, thymoquinone, offering a promising phytotherapeutic candidate for mitigating drug-induced organ toxicity.
Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective efficacy of Nigella sativa oil against levofloxacin-induced myocardial damage in rats using histological examination and cardiac biomarker analysis.
Methods:
Forty adult male Wistar rats were allocated into four experimental groups (n = 10): Group I (Control) received the vehicle; Group II (LEVO) received 75 mg/kg/day levofloxacin orally; Group III (NSO) received 2 ml/kg/day Nigella sativa oil orally; and Group IV (LEVO + NSO) received the same doses of both LEVO and NSO. The treatment regimen lasted for 30 consecutive days. Following euthanasia, heart tissue and blood samples were collected for histological and biochemical analysis.
Results:
LEVO exhibited severe cardiotoxicity, marked by significant increases in all cardiac…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Ferulic acid regulates the AKT/GSK-3β/CRMP-2 signaling pathway in a middle cerebral artery occlusion animal model
- Novel Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Parameters Quantify the Exposure–Effect Relationship of Levofloxacin against Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli
- Photochemical behavior of levofloxacin
- Correlation Between Dissolution Profiles of Salt-Form Drugs in Biorelevant Bicarbonate Buffer and Oral Drug Absorption: Importance of Dose/ Fluid Volume Ratio
- Evaluation of the synergistic potential and mechanisms of action for de novo designed cationic antimicrobial peptides
- Synthesis of [11C]levofloxacin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.