Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India

Biography

Kannan Ramalingamn  Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State  University, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, International experience includes various programs, contributions and participation in different countries for diverse fields of study.

Publications

• Research Article   
  Safety Assessment of Thymoquinone-rich Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) Oil (BlaQmax®): Acute and Sub-chronic Toxicity Studies
  Author(s): Kannan Ramalingam, Sibi Ittiyavirah, Ramadasan Kuttan, Krishnakumar Illathu Madhavamenon* and Syam Das Sivadasan
  
  Background: Despite the increasing usage of black cumin (Nigella sativa) oil as dietary supplements/Nutraceuticals, systematic investigations on the role of its major bioactive component thymoquinone (TQ) on safety aspects have not been reported so far. Method: Herein, we report the safety of BCO containing various concentrations of TQ (0.6% and 5% w/w) by single dose acute and 90 days oral toxicity studies in Wistar rats, as per OECD guidelines. Results: While BCO with 0.6% (w/w) of TQ content was safe at 300 to 2000 mg/kg b.wt. upon single dose oral acute toxicity study, LD50 cut off dosage for BCO with 5% TQ (BCO-5) was in the range 50-300 mg/kg b. wt. Further repeated dose 90 days study at 0.1, 0.05 and 0.01 mL/kg of BCO-5 (i.e., at 5, 2.5 and 1 mg of TQ/kg b.wt.) established its NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) as 0.1 mL/kg (5 mg of TQ/kg b.wt.). Conclusion: Black cumin o.. View More»
  

  Abstract HTML PDF