A model Organism for Antihelminthic Activity: Caenorhabditis elegans and Nigella sativa

In our study, antihelminthic activity of Nigella sativa was tested on a model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans).

N2 (wild type) C. elegans and Escherichia coli OP50 were purchased from the University of Minnesota, Ceanorhabditis Genetic Center for the study. C. elegans were grown in NGM (Nematode Growth Medium) solid culture medium. After synchronization, nematodes in adult form were exposed to Nigella sativa seed oil at concentrations of 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, 0.001% and 0.0001%. The study continued for 18 days until all nematodes in the experimental and control groups died. Alive and dead nematodes were recorded every day. The nematodes in which pharengeal pumping stopped was recorded dead.

According to our findings, all nematodes died at the end of the fourth day at a concentration of 1%. In addition, no alive nematod was observed at the end of the fifth day at concentration of 0.1%; whereas at the end of the 13^th day all nematodes died at concentration of 0.01%. When the data were analyzed statistically, the difference between at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.01%, 0.001% and the control group was significant (p<0.05).

The fact that helminths are usually macroscopic in size and most of them cannot be produced in the laboratory by culturing is a major obstacle for scientific studies. Our study has shown that C. elegans can be a good model in studies of antihelmintic activity and that Nigella sativa has an anthelmintic effect.