Abstract
Al-Mufarrej, S.I., Hassib, A.M. and Hussein, M.F. 2006. Effect of melanin extract from black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa L.) on humoral antibody response to sheep red blood cells in albino rats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 29: 37-41.
To study the effect of melanin extract from Nigella sativa on antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), fifty six albino rats were divided into four groups (A-D) of 7 males and 7 females each. Rats of groups A, B and C were immunized with 1 ml suspension of SRBC (25%) subcutaneously. Group A rats were also inoculated simultaneously with 1 ml suspension of N. sativa melanin extract (10 mg/ml), while those of group B were inoculated with 0.1 ml of Fruend's complete adjuvant. Groups C and D served as "immunized only" and "sham immunized" controls, respectively. The same immunizations were repeated four weeks later to investigate secondary immune responses. Significantly, higher and longer lasting antibody response to SRBC in group A than either group B or C was observed. This was evident both during the primary and secondary immunization and was generally more pronounced in female than male rats. Concurrent elevation of serum globulins and total protein occurred in all immunized groups. These findings indicate that melanin extracted from the seeds of N. sativa might have a stimulatory effect on the immune system, which could explain the popular belief of an association between these seeds and increased resistance to disease.