Abstract

The effect of the oral administration of an aqueous suspension of Nigella sativa(50 mg/kg b.wt.) against morphological, cytological and biochemical alterations of blood cells in mice treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) was studied. CCl₄was administered at a dose of 1.9 ml/kg b.wt (¼ LD50) every other day for three successive weeks. The results indicated significant changes in the haematological parameters in animals intoxicated with CCl₄. Morphological and ultrastructural alterations including both nucleus and cytoplasm of peripheral blood cells were also recorded. Treatment of the animals with N. sativaimproved both physiological and structural changes induced by CCl₄.

Key words: Carbon tetrachloride, Nigella sativa, mice, blood cells, haematological disorders, cytopathology.