The Effect of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) on the Caspase-3 Expression and the Number of Testic Sertoli Cells in Balb/C Male Mouses Exposed to Diazinon

Abstract

Diazinon is an organophosphate pesticide that is often used in agricultural business sectors. Nevertheless, this type of pesticide could negatively inhibit the acetylcholinesterase, resulting cell apoptosis and hormonal disruption of the reproductive system. The major of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of black cumin seeds as antioxidants on the expression of caspase-3 and sertoli cells in spermatogenesis. A total of 20 male mouses were divided into five groups, K-(negative control, no treatment), K+ (positive control, 40 mg diazinon/kg BW); P1 (40 mg diazinon/kg BW + 200 mg black cumin/kg BW); P2 (40 mg diazinon/kg BW + 400 mg black cumin/kg BW); P3 (40 mg diazinon/kg BW + 600 mg black cumin/kg BW) throughout trials. The results showed that the black cumin seeds powder significantly decreased the caspase-3 expression, whereby P3 revealed the lower value compared to other treatment groups (P < 0.05). Besides, an increased the number of Sertoli cells was significantly in line the supplementation of black cumin powder (P < 0.05), showing P3 had stronger effect than their counterpars. Furthermore, this study suggests that the administration of black cumin seed powder could decrease the expression of caspase-3 and increase the number of Sertoli cells in mouses subjected diazinon.