Nigella sativa oil Reduces extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)-like behavior in haloperidol-treated rats

Tafheem Malik, University of Karachi, Pakistan
Sheema Hasan, National University of Health Sciences
Shahid Pervez, Section of Histopathology, Dept of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi
Tasneem Fatima, United Medical and Dental College
Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem, The University of Karachi, Karachi

Abstract

The symptoms of Parkinsonism and oral dyskinesia have been showing to be induced by neuroleptics that significantly affect its clinical use. In this study, we investigate whether Nigella sativa-oil (NS) (black cumin seeds)— a traditional medicine used for the seizure treatment in eastern country—may reduce the haloperidol (HAL)- induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)-like behavior in rats. After combine treatment with HAL (1 mg/kg) on NS (0.2 ml/rat), rats displayed a significant decreased EPS-like behavior including movement disorders and oral dyskinesia as compared to controls. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates that NS reduced astrogliosis in caudate and accumbens nuclei. These results suggest that NS may consider as an adjunct to antipsychotics to reduce the EPS-like side effect