TITLE:
Effects of Nigella sativa Seed Extract on Perphenzine-Induced Muscle Rigidity in Male Mice
AUTHORS:
Mahsa Hadipour Jahromy, Mokhtar Jalili, Ahmad Jamshidi Mohajer, Fatemeh Kamali Poor, Shirin Mansoori Dara
KEYWORDS:
Nigella sativa, Parkinson, Muscle Rigidity
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.4 No.4,
July
23,
2014
ABSTRACT: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of
the central nervous system. Early in the course of the disease, the most obvious
symptoms are movement-related, including: shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement
and difficulty with walking and gait. Rigidity is stiffness and resistance to limb
movement caused by increased muscle tone, an excessive and continuous contraction
of muscles. Effects of different herbal preparations have been evaluated on muscle
rigidity so far and some of them are approved in clinic. In the present research,
the effects of Nigella sativa hydroalcoholic seed extract on muscle
stiffness in perphenazine-induced muscle rigidity were evaluated in adult male mice.
In this experimental study, L-dopa 10 mg/kg, Nigella sativa hydroalcoholic
seed extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg were administered orally to male Balb/c mice
for 12 days. Control group only received water. Muscle rigidity scores were then
measured and compared. The muscle rigidity score in group receiving extract at 50
mg/kg had no significant difference with control group but at 100 mg/kg it had been
significantly improved starting at the 40th minute. The extract at 200 mg/kg had
significant difference in all times measured in comparison with control group that
also showed lower scores compared to L-dopa treated group. According to the obtained
results in this study, it can be concluded that Nigella sativa hydroalcoholic
extract has good effects on muscle rigidity in dose-dependent pattern.