Nigella sativa reduces tissue damage in rat ovaries subjected to torsion and detorsion: oxidative stress, proinflammatory response and histopathological evaluation.

Background: To evaluate biochemically and histopathologically the effects of Nigella sativa (NS) in experimental ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries.

Methods: Thirty-six female rats were divided into 6 groups: group I = sham operation; group II = 500 mg/kg NS + sham operation; group III = bilateral ovarian ischemia; group IV = 500 mg/kg NS + ischemia; group V = 3-hour period of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion, and group VI: 3-hour period of ischemia + 500 mg/kg NS 2.5 h after the induction of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion.