Therapeutic potential of black seed oil in treating rheumatoid arthritis: Insights on biochemical and genetic analyses of inflammatory signaling transducer

Nigella sativa (Black seed) has been a longstanding component of traditional medicine. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder targeting bone, cartilage, and synovial cells, leads to enduring joint damage due to pathological immune responses. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of black seed oil in treating rheumatoid arthritis using a rat model. Fifty male albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, induced arthritis, induced arthritis treated with black seed oil, induced arthritis treated with hydroxychloroquine, and induced arthritis treated with a combination of black seed oil and hydroxychloroquine. Arthritis was induced in the rats using single dose of 0.1 ml of Complete Freunds Adjuvant. Biochemical and genetic analyses of signaling transducers (IFNγ, IL-4, STAT3, and IL-12) were conducted on blood samples and stifle joints. Results indicated that induced arthritis led to elevated serum AST, ALT activities, creatinine, urea, FBS, RF, Anti-CCP, and CRP, along with reduced serum TAC. Additionally, there was an upregulation of IL-12, IFNγ, and STAT3 genes, and a downregulation of IL-4 gene compared to the normal control group. Treatment with black seed oil or hydroxychloroquine individually demonstrated notable improvements in these parameters, although the combined treatment showed less marked improvement. In conclusion, black seed oil demonstrates potential therapeutic benefits in alleviating the negative impacts of rheumatoid arthritis.