Author(s): Mohammad Aziz Dollah, Saadat Parhizkar, Latiffah Abdul Latiff, Abbas Salahi Ardekani, Dayang Erna Zulaikha
Introduction: Menopause is a permanent cessation of menstruation with the decreasing of ovarian follicular functions. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the most effective method in reducing the rate of bone loss in postmenopausal women with increasing the risks of breast cancer and uterine hyperplasia. So it is necessary to find a suitable treatment which is mimic to the estrogen role in maintaining normal calcium balance without its side effects. Objectives: objective of the study was to determine the effect of Black seed on calcium homeostasis by measuring the level of calcium regulating hormones, i.e. calcitonin, PTH; and serum calcium concentration in menopause induced animal model. Methods and Materials: Thirty six ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley female rats with 250 – 350 g of weight were supplemented with Black seed for 28 days. The rats were divided into 6 group as followed; Non-OVX + 0 mg/day Black seed, OVX + 0 mg/day Black seed, OVX + 300 mg/day Black seed, OVX + 600 mg/day Black seed, OVX + 1200 mg/day Black seed and OVX + 0.05 mg/day Estradiol valerate. Statistical analyses have done through 2- way ANOVA using SPSS. Results: A significant PTH reduction was revealed with 1200 mg/day Black seed treatment (p<0.05). A significant increase of calcitonin level on day 28 of 600 and 1200 mg/day of Black seed treatment groups was noted in comparison with control group (p<0.05). Meanwhile serum calcium significantly increased (p<0.05) with supplementation duration on day 20 and 28 compared to day 0 of supplementation. Conclusion: In conclusion, although the study does not completely describing the whole spectrum of osteoporotic pathogenesis prevalence, the study has reflected Black seed as a probable candidate possessing estrogenic-activity in regulating calcium-regulating hormones, responsible for calcium homeostasis for menopausal women.