Effect of Nigella sativa oil versus amoxicillin in induced chronic fundic gastritis in adult female albino rats: a histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical study

Introduction:Chronic gastritis may be due to many pathological factors, one of which is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Aim of work:This work aimed to study the effect of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) as against amoxicillin (AMOX) on the histological changes in chronic fundic gastritis induced by H. pylori. Materials and methods:Thirty adult female albino rats were divided into control (I) and experimental (II) groups. The latter group received 0.5 ml of H. pylori brucella broth in daily morning doses for 1 week. The rats were then randomly classified into gastritis (IIa), AMOX (IIb), and NSO (IIc) subgroups. Serum levels of gastrin hormone and pepsinogen I were measured. Samples from fundus of the stomach were stained with H E, inducible nitric oxide synthetase, and DNA fragmentation factor 45. Morphometric and statistical studies were carried out. Results:There was a highly significant increase in gastrin hormone level accompanied by a highly significant reduction in pepsinogen I level in H. pylori-induced gastritis. Fundus from the H. pylori subgroup showed disorganized fundic glands, wide empty gastric pits, few cytoplasm, and dark thin nuclei of surface mucous cells. Most of the parietal cells had vacuolated cytoplasm and pyknotic peripheral nuclei. Infiltrations of lamina propria by mononuclear cells and extravasated RBCs were noticed. Both moderate and strong positive immunoreactions for inducible nitric oxide synthetase and DNA fragmentation factor 45 were observed. There was a highly statistically significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells, congested blood vessels, and extravasated RBCs, and in immunohistochemically measured morphometric parameters. The subgroup of chronic gastritis rats treated by NSO showed a nearly normal histological appearance for surface mucous, mucous neck, and parietal cells. Conclusion and recommendation: NSO exhibits useful histological and biochemical anti-H. pylori activity, which is comparable to that of AMOX. In the future, further experimental and clinical trials may be needed to improve the efficiency of the natural line of therapy, in addition to chemical methods of treatment.