Abstract
Background: Garden cress seeds(Lepidium sativum seeds [LSS]) are widely used in traditional medicine for different effects. This study was done to determine the effects of ground LSS on the immune system, which is an effect attributed to LSS with no sufficient proof. Thus, hematology, IgM concentrations, body weights and total and percent relative total body weight gains, and feed and water intakes were determined in rats for two experimental periods. This is the first study to determine the effects of LSS in healthy subjects on water intake, counts white blood cell (WBC) types, IgM levels, and differences between two experimental periods for the measured parameters. In addition, this is the first study to use 15% LSS mixed with the diet for the studied parameters. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six young male Wistar albino rats were equally divided into low dose (LD) and high dose (HD) groups administered with 10% and 15%, respectively, ground LSS mixed with the regular feed (w/w) daily, and a control group administered with the regular feed. Blood samples were collected on days 30-32 and again on days 38-40 of the experiment. Results: Comparing the results of the LSS groups to the control: LSS led to higher body weights and total body weight gains, lower feed and water intakes for both experimental periods, lower hemoglobin and IgM levels for the LD group for the shorter experimental period only, higher total and differential WBC counts/percents, and lower lymphocytes percent for the HD group. Conclusions: LSS affected both humoral and innate immunities, hemoglobin concentration, and body weight with some dependence on the period of consumption.