Effect of Nigella sativa and wheat germ oils on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats

Fish oil and wheat germ oil supplementation modulates brain injury in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats

“…Supplementation of WGO, as a source of vitamin E, results in a rapid increase in the vitamin E content in the brain, inhibiting lipid peroxidation. 40,41 The histopathological changes in the brain in the diabetic rat group are in accordance with the study of Huang et al, 42 who reported that diabetes reduced fatty acids in the striatum and motor/somatosensory cortex as early as 4 weeks after diabetes induction. Moreover, demyelination, axonal degradation, and neuronal dysfunction are observed in various brain regions, and these are associated with the inflammation and oxidative stress that affect hippocampal synaptic plasticity and apoptosis of neurons.…”

“…The histopathological changes in the brain in the diabetic rat group are in accordance with the study of Huang et al, who reported that diabetes reduced fatty acids in the striatum and motor/somatosensory cortex as early as 4 weeks after diabetes induction. Moreover, demyelination, axonal degradation, and neuronal dysfunction are observed in various brain regions, and these are associated with the inflammation and oxidative stress that affect hippocampal synaptic plasticity and apoptosis of neurons . In the present study, FO + WGO supplementation ameliorated the pathological alterations in the brains of diabetic rats.…”

“…These results are in agreement with previous studies that reported a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation in the brains of aged rats following n‐3PUFA supplementation, along with increased SOD and CAT activity and GSH levels, reflecting the antioxidant effects of n‐3 PUFA. Supplementation of WGO, as a source of vitamin E, results in a rapid increase in the vitamin E content in the brain, inhibiting lipid peroxidation …”

“…However, untreated diabetic mice have a diminished sense of touch in their paws that corresponds to fewer nerves in the paw skin and slower transmission of signals along the nerves compared with healthy mice . Moreover, the high vitamin E content of WGO could ameliorate the brain impairment process underlying aging and enhance memory deficit and markedly reduce brain AChE activity …”

<i>Nigella sativa</i> (black seed) extract improves spatial learning abilityin albino mice

“…The beneficial effects of Nigella sativa on memory could be attributed to the ability of one or more of its constituents to protect against cellular damage caused by oxidative stress through its free radical scavenging properties and increased anti-inflammatory activity as evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde(MDA) and brain tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-) content, increasing glutathione brain contents, as well as increased availability of acetylcholine (ACh), through acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity inhibition, thus retaining the effects of ACh in the encoding of new memories, (El-Marasy et al, 2012, & Toktam et al, 2011. We therefore conclude that acute administration of Nigella sativa improves both learning and recall (memory) and has a better effect on learning but not memory when compared to piracetam.…”