Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research (Online), cilt.2, sa.1, ss.26-33, 2018 (Hakemli Dergi)
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Thymoquinone, the basic bioactive phytochemical constituent ofseeds oil of Nigella sativa,
is one of these herbal drugs with known antidiabetic effects. In this study, effects of thymoquinone (TQ)
on antioxidant vitamin levels in experimental diabetic rats were investigated. Materials and Methods:
Twenty-eight male Wistar-Albino rats (200-250 g) were used as material. The rats were divided into
four groups of control (C), thymoquinone (T), diabetes (D) and diabetes + thymoquinone (DT). D and
DT groups were treated with 45 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) (i.p). TQ was administered as 30 mg/kg/21
days by oral gavage in DT and T groups.
Results: The retinol concentrations were observed to have significantly decreased in the diabetes and
diabetes + TQ groups (p ≤ 0.05). There was no difference between the group delivered TQ and the
control group. It was identified that the tocopherol concentrations were lower in all study groups than
in the control group, and it was identified that the reduction in the diabetes and diabetes + TQ groups
was significant when compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.05). It was identified that the vitamin D3
levels were significantly lower in the study groups when compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: It was identified that the serum antioxidant vitamin levels decreased in the group with
experimental diabetes and that TQ administration did not significantly affect the antioxidant vitamin
levels significantly in the group with experimental diabetes.
Keywords: experimental diabetes, antioxidant vitamins, thymoquinone