Protective Effects of Nigella sativa Oil in Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury

Abstract Background Oxygen-induced lung injury is believed to lead to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants. We have evaluated the beneficial effects of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) on rats with hyperoxia-induced lung injury. Methods Thirty newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as hyperoxia (95% O 2 ), hyperoxia+NSO and control (21% O 2 ). Pups in the hyperoxia+NSO group were administered intraperitoneal NSO at a dose of 4 ml/kg daily during the study period. Histopathologic, immunochemical, and biochemical evaluations (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], malonaldehyde [MDA] and myeloperoxidase [MPO]) were performed. Results In the histopathologic and immunochemical evaluation, severity of lung damage was significantly lower in the hyperoxia+NOS group ( P P Conclusion NSO significantly reduced the severity of lung damage due to hyperoxia.