Honey and Black Seed Synergistically Promote Regeneration of Oligodendrocytes in Cuprizone Intoxicated Quail Brain

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder, characterized by demyelination and loss of axonal parts of neurons in the central nervous system involving multiple genetic and environmental factors. Although, the demyelinated lesions develop throughout the brain, but more frequently are extensive in white matter. Currently, three different approaches are being utilized to treat MS, where synthetic drugs are the most frequently used but they do not cure the disease. Secondly, the stem cell therapy but this too has limited success in treating MS in humans. The thirds technique involving administering hormones has been found to be most effective method but this too have some significant side effects. Alternatively, natural products can potentially serve as an affordable and effective substitute for the treatment of MS with minimum or no side effects. Blackseeds ( Nigella sativa) and honey possessing potent neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties with no reported side effects can be a prospective candidate for an alternate remedial treatment of MS in animal model as well as in humans. In this study we established a new animal model (quail), to assess the synergistic efficacy of honey and black seed against demyelination within brain. A total of 35 male quails were used, among 10 were non treated and 25 were treated with 200 mg/kg/day cuprizone (CPZ) demyelination for six months to induce demyelination. After that they were divided into seven groups of five animal each where 3 CPZ treated groups received either honey, black seed oil or mixture of both for 6 weeks after demyelination. Behavioral tests were performed at the end of treatment. Afterwards, oligodendrocyte population was estimated in cerebellar white matter after histology. It was found that all three treatments efficiently induce remyelination. Interestingly, the mixture of honey and black seed was significantly more efficient than honey and black seed alone. Our data support the need of clinical trials for administration of N. sativa and honey in MS patients.