Protective Effect of Nigella Sativa Oil on Stress Gastric Ulcer in Hypothyroidal Rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of hypothyroidism on the development of acute cold restraint stress gastritis in rats and protective effect of Nigella sativa at the beginning of the acute cold restraint stress. METHODS: 60 rats were randomly divided into six groups; the control (groups I), surgically thyroidectomized group (group II), acute cold restraint stressed group (group III), surgically thyroidectomized plus stressed group (group IV), Nigella sativa oil group (group V) and surgically thyroidectomized plus stressed plus Nigella sativa oil group (group VI). Volume of gastric juice, number and size of ulcer, gastric malonaldehyde, gastric glutathione, gastric protein and serum thyroxine (T4) were measured. RESULTS: Significant increases both of number of gastric ulcer and malonaldehyde while decreases both of glutathione and protein levels in rats in groups III and IV in comparison with control group. While, insignificant increase were observed between control and both of groups II and VI. CONCLUSION: In rats, low thyroid hormone level increase stress gastritis, and this effect can be decreased by treatment with Nigella sativa.