Serum trace elements status of rabbits supplemented with Nigella sativa, vitamins C and E, and selenium against damage by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Chicory and Milk Thistle on Serum Concentrations of Copper, Zinc, and Manganese in Tamoxifen-Treated Rats

Some medications may change trace element levels in the body. Extracts of various plants, due to having the several elements, can have beneficial effects. Consumption of herbal extracts with chemical drugs may reduce adverse effects of medication. The goal of this study was to evaluate copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) concentrations in serum of rats treated with tamoxifen, chicory, and/or milk thistle extracts. Therefore, 36 adult female Wistar rats were divided into six groups: normal control, chicory control, milk thistle control, tamoxifen, tamoxifen-chicory, and tamoxifen-milk thistle. At the end of the study, the blood samples were collected and sera isolated by centrifugation and analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Cu, Zn, and Mn levels. The Zn concentration increased in milk thistle-supplemented groups. The Cu level increased in the chicory control group only. Tamoxifen had no affect on Cu, Zn, and Mn levels, but seed extract of milk thistle increased Zn concentration, and chicory root extract increased Cu concentration. Although elevated levels of Cu in rats receiving tamoxifen-chicory were milder than rats treated only with chicory, it seems that the extract and tamoxifen impact on the Cu are in conflict with each other.

In vitro decreases of the fibrinolytic potential of cultured human fibrosarcoma cell line, HT1080, by Nigella sativa oil

It is generally accepted that the fibrinolytic potential of tumor cells is related to their malignant phenotype. In the present study, Nigella sativa oil (NSO) was studied to evaluate its effect on the fibrinolytic potential of the fibosarcoma cell line HT1080 to elucidate whether this oil might have an antitumor activity through its modulation of the fibrinolytic potential of such cells. NSO produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). When subconfluent HT1080 cells were conditioned with oil, a concentration (0.0-200 microg oil/ml)-dependent decrease in t-PA, u-PA and PAI-1 antigen was observed. There was also a concentration-dependent decrease (from 0.0 to 112.5 microg oil/ml) in the confluent cultures. The results showed that blackseed oil decreases the fibrinolytic potential of the human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT1080) in vitro, implying that inhibition of local tumor invasion and metastasis may be one such mechanism.