Black seed oil effects on interleukin-6 levels in Wistar rats with peritonitis

BACKGROUND: A phytochemical analysis of black seed identified hundreds of phytoconstituents, including alkaloids, saponins, sterols, and essential oils. Some of its most important bioactive compounds are nigellone and thymoquinone. Thymoquinone compounds in black seed were found to significantly lower interleukin (IL)-6 levels and showed high an-tioxidant activity. Therefore, this study examined black seed oil's effect on IL-6 expression in Wistar rats with peritonitis.METHODS: This was an experimental study using a post-test-only control group design comprising rats with peritoni-tis. IL-6 levels were quantified in blood drawn from the tail veins of male adult Wistar rats after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days of peritonitis with or without black seed oil administration. There were four peritonitis treatment groups: group I received no treatment; group II was given black seed oil; group III was given black seed oil and ceftriaxone; group IV was given ceftriaxone. Group V (control) had no peritonitis or treatment. RESULTS: Average IL-6 levels significantly increased by 2.81 +/- 1.11 pg/mL after Escherichia coli injection (P=0.048). IL-6 levels differed significantly among the four treatment groups on days 3, 7, and 14 after injection (P<0.05). Com-bining black seed oil and ceftriaxone reduced IL-6 levels in Wistar rats with peritonitis more than black seed oil alone.CONCLUSIONS: Giving black seed oil alone or combined with ceftriaxone significantly reduced IL-6 levels in Wistar rats with peritonitis. The combination therapy had a synergistic effect that accelerated inflammation reduction, as shown by the large decrease in IL-6 levels.