Effects of concurrent and separate natural nano-sized clinoptilolite and nigella sativa powder serum levels of inflammatory parameters in rats with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background and Aims: Recent studies have shown that chronic inflammation and immune system activation are involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An increase in circulating inflammatory markers such as (Interleukin 6) IL-6 predicts the progression of T2DM. Therefore, antiinflammatory therapies can reduce the risk of developing T2DM. Also, due to the willingness to use non-chemical drugs and complementary and natural therapies, and evidence of medical applications of zeolite, the effects of separate and simultaneous supplementation with nigella sativa (NS) and Nano sized Clinoptilolite (NCLN) on inflammatory markers and complete blood count (CBC) in rats with T2DM were investigated in this study. Methods: In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats, which aged 5-6 months and weighing > 250 grams were randomly divided into diabetic and non-diabetic (NC) groups. The rats in diabetic group were fed a high-fat diet for one month, then a single dose (35 mg/kg BW) of streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally for induction of diabetes mellitus. After one week, oral glucose tolerance test and homeostasis insulin resistance test were used to confirm T2DM. Rats with blood glucose levels above 250 mg/dL were considered diabetic. The diabetic group was divided into four subgroups as follow: 1) Diabetic control (DC): 9 diabetic rats without treatment; 2) NS: 9 rats supplemented with 1 gr/kg BW; 3) NCLN: 9 diabetic rats supplemented with 2% of food as NCLN; 4) NS + NCLN: 9 diabetic rats supplemented with NS + NCLN; The healthy group included 6 non-diabetic rats (NC) without treatment. At the end of the study (7 weeks), interleukin -1 beta (IL1β), IL-6, and interleukin-10 (IL10) were measured and CBC test was done. Food intake was measured at the beginning of the first week and at the end of each week; at the same times we also measured the rats’ weight. Data were analyzed by version 16 of SPSS software and p <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The results showed that IL10 levels increased in diabetic rats with NCLN and NS + NCLN group in comparison to NC group (p=0.043 and p=0.021). Supplements had no significant effect on IL6 and IL-1β. Platelet levels were significantly increased in NS groups (p=0.002) compared to the NC group and in the NCLN group (p = 0.001) compared to the NC group. Also, there was a significant difference between the NCLN group and the NS (p =0.0001) and NS + NCLN (p = 0.0001). In addition, the mean concentrations of red blood cell hemoglobin increased in NS (p=0.013) and NCLN (P=0.024) groups compared to NC group. At the end of the seventh week, weight loss was observed in all diabetic subgroups as compared to the NC group. The supplementation with NS and NS + NCLN in comparison with the control group and NCLN could significantly reduce the weight loss until the fifth week of treatment. Conclusion: Based on this study, NS supplementation, as well as synergistic supplementation of NS and NCLN can have an increased effect on antiinflammatory parameters. Although more research is needed to confirm the effect of NS and NCLN separately and together on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers. According to the above results, it is suggested that similar studies with different doses of these two supplements (NS and NCLN) be designed and the effects of these supplements on the tissue levels of inflammatory parameters should be studied.