Investigating the cardioprotective effects of Nigella sativa oil on chronic antibiotic use on the myocardium of the left ventricle of male BALB/C mice

The abuse of antibiotics is a significant factor in the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the development of several diseases in the modern world. These were conducted to provide information on the combined impact of chronic antibiotic exposure and Nigella sativa oil (NSO) on the morphology of the left ventricle of the heart of mice.

40 adult male BALB/c mice weighing about 28–32 kg, divided into 5 groups, were used for this research. Group A was given normal saline, and Group B mice received 1000 mg/kg/of ampicillin. Groups C mice received 2 ml/kg of NSO, Group D were given 1000 mg/kg of ampicillin + 2 ml/kg of NSO, and Group E mice received 1000 mg/kg pre-exposed to ampicillin + 2 ml/kg of NSO. The rats were sacrificed, and the heart tissue was harvested and stored in sample bottles containing 10 % neutral buffer for histological and immunohistochemical studies.

The results showed that there was a significant difference in superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in group B when compared with the control group (p = 0.0002, p = 0.0047, respectively). The photomicrograph of the control mice showed a regular arrangement with clear striations of myocardial fibres and centrally placed nuclei. There was a distortion of the regular arrangement of the myofibrils and disoriented nuclei in the ampicillin-only group.

The study concluded that chronic ampicillin exposure induces significant myocardial damage, affecting both the histological integrity and functional capacity of the heart.