Food & Nutrition

Arab Journal of Food & Nutrition
71. Effect of Black Cumin Seeds (Nigella Sativa L.) on Blood Glucose Levels and
Body Weight in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats (2004)
Maram Abdulelah Qasem\ University of Jordan
Supervisor: Dr. Mousa Numan Ahmad
This study was carried out to investigate the effect of a dietary preparation of
black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa L.) on blood glucose levels and body weight in
normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was partially induced by intraperitoneal injection of
streptozotocin (
32.25 mg/kg). Fifty-four male Sprague Dawley rats (/200.4±2.1g) were divided into
three normal and three diabetic groups. Each group, consisted of nine diabetic and six
normal rats, was fed a diet containing either 0% black cumin seed, 2% raw or 2%
roasted seeds for six weeks.
The results of this study indicated that accumulative food and water intakes and
blood glucose levels were significantly higher (P 0.05) on weight gain,
accumulative food and water intakes, food efficiency ratio and blood glucose levels.
Weight gain and food efficiency ratio of diabetic rats fed roasted black cumin seed diet
(/28.46±12.8g, 3.67 ±1.7, respectively ) was significantly higher (P 0.05) from the control rat group (-6.06±12.8g, -0.44±1.7, respectively).
No significant differences (P> 0.05) were detected between the three diabetic groups
in accumulative food and water intakes and blood glucose concentration (mg/dl).
However, blood glucose levels (mg/dl) tended to be lower in normal and diabetic rats
fed roasted black cumin seed diet compared to those fed the raw seed and control diets.
Significant negative correlation coefficients were observed in diabetic rats between
blood glucose concentration and weight gain (r = -0.44, P < 0.02) and food
efficiency ratio (r=-0.46, P< 0.01). Positive correlation coefficient was also detected
between blood glucose concentration and accumulative water intake (r=0.38
, P< 0.05). Accumulative food intake of diabetic rats correlated positively with
accumulative water intake (r=0.82, P< 0.01).
It is concluded that black cumin seeds tend to reduce blood glucose concentration
in normal and diabetic rats. The seeds tend to stabilize body weight changes of
diabetic rats regarding blood glucose level. Roasted black cumin seeds seem to be
more effective in controlling blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. Roasting of black
cumin seeds seem to activates the hypoglycemic agents present in the seed.
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Volume 237 11, No. 25, 2011