Journal of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

Thymoquinone Effect (an Active Metabolite of the Plant Nigella sativa) on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rat Ovary

Objectives: To determine the antioxidant effects of thymoquinone (one of the active components of the plant Nigella sativa) on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovary. Study design: Twenty four rats were divided into four groups: control (n=6), ischemia (n=6), ischemia (n=6), ischemia-reperfusion+thymoquinone (n=6). Ovarian torsion was surgically reperfusion+saline induced by vascular clamps. The ovary was clamped for 3 hours and 30 minutes before reperfusion 10 mg/kg thymoquinone was injected intraperitoneally. Following three hours of reperfusion, right oophorectomy was done and the rats were sacrificed.Main outcome measures: Histological disturbances of the ovarian tissues were scored and tissue levels of catalase (CAT), malondealdehyde (MDA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) were measured.Results: In the thymoquinone treated group, tissue CAT levels were significantly higher (p=0.02) and MDA levels were significantly lower (p=0.042). XO levels were similar among the groups. Histological examinations of thymoquinone group revealed a better preserved ovarian tissue compared to the control, ischemic and the saline treated ischemia-reperfusion groups. Conclusion: Thymoquinone at dose of 10 mg has a potent antioxidant and tissue preserving effect against the ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat ovary prone to torsion/detorsion.

Author(s):

Ozlem Gun Eryilmaz, Hatice Kansu-Celik, Esma Sarikaya, Sureyya Barun, Aslihan Avci, Sule Ozel and Candan Ozogul

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