الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE WORKOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background & Aim: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is β-galactoside binding lectin recently appeared to have role in TGF-β1 induced fibrogenesis. Nigella sativa seed (black seed) and honey are well known for their medicinal properties especially their hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic characteristics against various hepatotoxins. In the present study, we investigated the possible inhibitory effect of both black seed and honey mixture on galectin-3 level in thioacetamide induced liver fibrosis in rats. Also we investigated the correlation between galectin-3 level and other biochemical markers for liver injury, as well as histopathological changes of liver.
Materials and methods: Seventy albino Wistar rats were divided into seven groups, ten rats per each group, as follows: G(A) normal control, groups from (B) to (G) intoxicated by thioacetamide (200 mg/Kg b.wt), then G(C) treated with silymarin (50 mg/Kg b.wt), G(D) treated with black seed (50 mg/Kg b.wt), G(E) treated with honey (50 mg/Kg b.wt), G(F) treated with black seed and honey mixture (50 mg/Kg b.wt), G(G) treated by black seed and honey mixture (100 mg/Kg b.wt). Blood and liver tissue samples were collected for biochemical analyses and histopathological examination after seven weeks. Liver galectin-3 (Gal-3), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), antioxidant and oxidative stress parameters levels, as well as levels of serum liver function parameters, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and plasma glucose, were estimated. Additionally histopathological examinations of liver sections were carried out.
Results: Thioacetamide induced liver injury and fibrosis was obvious through elevation of liver levels of galectin-3, TGF-β1, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (•NO), as well as serum levels of liver transaminases, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and plasma glucose. Along with decrease in liver total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level, catalase activity and serum total protein and albumin levels. That is beside additional confirmation by the histopathological results showing presence of large fibrotic areas measured using image analyzer program.
Treatment with each of black seed and honey, separated and combined, and silymarin caused significant decrease in Gal-3, TGF-β1, MDA, •NO, total bilirubin, glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols levels, ALT and AST activities, meanwhile it caused significant increase in catalase activity, TAC, total protein and albumin levels, along with reduction of fibrotic areas. Treatment with black seed and honey mixture by different doses had the greatest inhibitory effect on galectin-3 and TGF-β1 levels among all treated groups (C - G) and induced an overall improvement in liver state close to results in silymarin treated group. Gal-3 exhibited significant positive correlation with TGF-β1, MDA, •NO, ALT & AST, and significant negative correlation with TAC and catalase.
Conclusion: Administration of black seed and honey, both as mixture or separated, reduced galectin-3 level and progression of fibrosis in thioacetamide induced rat liver fibrosis. The inhibitory effect of the mixture by different doses on galectin-3 level was greater than that of black seed or honey alone. So hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic activity of black seed and honey acts, at least partly, through inhibition of galectin-3 level. Galectin-3 can be a reliable and high significant indicator for screening liver fibrogenesis progression.
Keywords: Galectin-3, Nigella sativa seed and honey mixture, liver fibrosis, TGF-β1.