Effect of thymoquinone: the extract of nigella sativa in accelerating soft callus formation in fracture

Background: Excessive oxidative stress on fracture case can inhibit fracture healing and decrease time of bone healing. Thymoquinone, an active substance of Nigella sativa, the so-called black cumin in common, is a potent antioxidant and have been studied as an antiosteoporotic agent. Thymoquinone is expected to be the adjuvant alternative that enhance the recovery process of fracture cases by reducing oxidative stress and promotes osteoblast proliferation on callus formation.Methods: Among 32 male mice Wistar Strain divided into 2 groups, conducted tibia fracture and casted. Group 1 was the control group without supplementation of Nigella sativa while black-cummin extract were given in group 2 orally at a dose of 800 mg/kg for 14 days. On the 14th day, group 1 and 2 were sacrificed, each bone tissue was taken to measure the levels of MDA by utilizing TBARS method and calculate the number of osteoblasts under the microscope. Data analysis were done using independent t-test.Results: There are both decreased MDA levels and increased number of osteoblasts that are histologically significant to the groups administered by Nigella sativa extract containing Thymoquinone compared to the control groups (p <0.05) on day 14.Conclusions: The administration of Thymoquinone from the extract of Nigella sativa reduced oxidative stress in fractures as well as increase the number of the osteoblast and its differentiation in callus formation.