EFFECT OF NIGELLA SATIVA ON SERUMCONCENTRATIONS OF THYROID HORMONES AND THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE IN ALLOXANINDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS

Background: Thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone levels are altered in diabetes mellitus. This study aims to assess the effect of Nigella Sativa (NS) seeds on serum concentrations of these hormones in type 1 diabetes. Material Methods: It was a Randomized Control Trials study on 30 albino rats. They were divided into Controls, Diabetics, and NS-treated Diabetics groups. Alloxan was used to produce type 1 diabetes. Control group animals were neither given NS seeds nor alloxan. Diabetic animals were given only alloxan. NS-treated diabetic animals were given both alloxan and NS seeds. After 12 weeks, blood was collected for estimation of these hormones. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0.. Results: The mean concentrations of serum T3 in control, diabetic, and NS-treated groups were 0.78 ±0.16 ng/ ml, 0.45 ±0.07 ng/ml and 0.55 ±0.07 ng/ml respectively, mean concentration of T4 were 3.65 ±0.52 μg/dl, 2.25 ±0.32 μg/dl and 2.82 ±0.42 μg/dl respectively, while that of TSH were 0.75 ±0.13 μU/ml, 1.42 ±0.15 μU/ml, and1.03±0.22 μU/ml respectively. The levels of T3 and T4 were significantly (p 0.001) decreased in diabetic group as compared to controls. However, in NS-treated diabetic group, serum T3 and T4 were significantly (p 0.001) increased as compared to diabetics. The mean concentration of TSH was significantly (p 0.001) increased in diabetic group as compared to controls. However, in NS-treated diabetic group, the mean value of serum TSH was significantly (p 0.001) decreased when compared with diabetics. Conclusion: This study concludes that T3, T4 levels were increased whereas that of TSH decreased significantly in diabetic animals after treatment with Nigella sativa.