Journal of Advanced Biomedical Sciences

Background & Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Bunium persicum (black cumin) essential oil for preventing ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced pancreatic injury in a rat model.
Materials & Methods: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the essential oil were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DPPH radical-scavenging assay, and the chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS. Pancreatic injury was induced by ischemia followed by reperfusion. Rats received pretreatment once daily for 7 days, administered by oral gavage or intraperitoneal injection, and post-treatment 1 day after the surgical procedure. Bunium persicum essential oil was administered at a dose of 0.1 mL/kg. Sham-operated animals underwent laparotomy and ischemia without treatment. The protective effects were evaluated through histological, biochemical, and molecular assessments.
Results: A nonsignificant decrease in the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 was observed in rats with I/R-induced pancreatic injury, a finding that correlated with the observed pathological and biochemical alterations. Our data indicate that 7-day oral pretreatment with Bunium persicum attenuated I/R-induced pancreatic damage. This protective effect may be associated with the antioxidant properties of the essential oil, as indicated by a nonsignificant change in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity relative to the positive control.
Conclusion: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of I/R-induced pancreatic injury. The underlying protective mechanisms of Bunium persicum appear to be multifactorial. These findings suggest that the antioxidant constituents of Bunium persicum essential oil may help mitigate pancreatic tissue damage, warranting further investigation of its potential therapeutic applications.