Protective effects of Nigella sativa on Pre-fronto-cortical functions in mice Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) model

<jats:p>Background: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with pre-fronto-cortical (PFC) cognitive dysfunctions. Ethanol is a psychoactive agent and its foetal exposure is employed in the modelling of ADHD.

Objective: To determine the curative roles of Nigella sativa in the PFC functions of mice induced with ADHD-like symptoms.

Method: Twelve BALB/c mice pups each from four groups of dams were studied. Normal saline was administered to the control (CTRL) dams, ethanol to the ETH dams, Nigella Sativa to the NS dams, and Nigella sativa followed with ethanol to the NSE dams. Novel object recognition test was used to assess recognition memory in the pups 15 days after weaning. Histological illustration of PFC was conducted using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain.

Results: ETH mice exhibited the least recognition memory while Nigella sativa prevented this deficit in NSE mice by eliciting much higher recognition memory. This indicates the neuroprotective role of Nigella sativa despite prenatal exposure. NS pups also had the highest weight gain, as well as the glutamate and Glutathione, peroxidase (GPX) levels, while raising these levels in the ETH-exposed mice which had the lowest levels, indicating a neurochemical potentiation. The results of the histological analysis showed the protective roles of Nigella sativa on the PFC neuronal densities.

Conclusion: This study suggests the protective effects of Nigella sativa on the prefronto-cortical functions in mice ADHD model following maternal exposure to ethanol.</jats:p>