Planta Med 2002; 68(5): 465-466
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32084
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Hypoglycemic Effect of Nigella sativa Oil is Mediated by Extrapancreatic Actions

M. El-Dakhakhny1 , N. Mady1 , N. Lembert2 , H. P. T. Ammon2
  • 1Pharmacology Department of Alexandria Medical Faculty, Alexandria, Egypt
  • 2Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

July 5, 2001

November 13, 2001

Publication Date:
07 June 2002 (online)

Abstract

A plant mixture containing extracts of Nigella sativa possesses blood glucose lowering effects, but the direct antidiabetic effect of Nigella sativa is not yet established. Therefore, the effect of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) on blood glucose concentrations was studied in streptozotocin diabetic rats. In addition, the effect of NSO, nigellone and thymoquinone were studied on insulin secretion of isolated rat pancreatic islets in the presence of 3, 5.6 or 11.1 mM glucose. NSO significantly lowered blood glucose concentrations in diabetic rats after 2, 4 and 6 weeks. The blood lowering effect of NSO was, however, not paralled by a stimulation of insulin release in the presence of NSO, nigellone or thymoquinone. The data indicate that the hypoglycemic effect of NSO may be mediated by extrapancreatic actions rather than by stimulated insulin release.

References

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Prof. Dr. Hermann P. T. Ammon

Department of Pharmacology

Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Auf der Morgenstelle 8

University of Tübingen

72076 Tübingen

Germany

Phone: +49 7071 29 74675

Fax: +49 7071 29 2476

Email: sekretariat.ammon@uni-tuebingen.de