The study aims to assess the neurodegenerative effects of stress in the brains of Wistar rats and investigate the neuroprotective potential of Nigella sativa. Rats will be divided into control, stress-induced, Nigella sativa-treated, and stress-induced with Nigella sativa treatment groups. Stress is hypothesized to negatively impact brain regions like the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. The study will evaluate behavioral changes, neurotransmitter levels, histopathological changes in the brain, and effects of Nigella sativa administration. Results could provide evidence for using Nigella sativa as a neuroprotectant against stress-induced brain damage.

1. STUDY ON NEURODEGENRATIVE EFFECT OF STRESS
IN THE BRAIN OF WISTAR RAT AND NEUROPROTECTIVE ROLE OF
NIGELLA SATIVA
A SYNOPSIS
Submitted to the
Department of Zoology
Centre for Advanced Studies
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur
Submitted by Supervisor
Hemlata Dr. Habiba Bano

2. Introduction
STRESS
 Stress is inventible state of imbalance of body
 Stress can have negative impact on learning, memory , decision making and
cognition
 Neurobehavioral effect of stress on brain reveals alteration of certain brain area
such as cerebellum , amygdala, hippocampus and frontal cortex.
Stress and Brain
 frontal cortex
 Hippocampus
 Amygdala
 cerebellum
 memory
Cognition and learning
Level of glucorticoids hormone
Emotional domain

3. Nigella sativa : A Potential Anxiolytic Agent
• Common name: Black cumin , kalonji,
black seed
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Have therapeutic potential as antimicrobial,
anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesics,
immunomodulatory.
• Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main active
constituent of the volatile oil of the black
seed.
• Acts as anxiolytic drug

4. OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT STUDY
• To assess the behavioral alterations in the brain of Wistar rats challenged
with stress.
• To assess the neurotransmitter levels in the brain of Wistar rats challenged
with stress.
• To investigate the neuroprotective role of Nigella sativa in Wistar rats
challenged with stress.
• To study effect of stress on the morphology and histopathology of the brain
in Wistar rats.

5. HYPOTHESIS
Stress negatively affects the normal function of central nervous system, leading
to cellular, biochemical and histopathological manifestations.
•Various kinds of factors such as hormone, neuroendocrine mediator, peptides
and neurotransmitter are involved in response to stress.
•The stress response can have negative consequences for mental health that may
lead to dysfunction of frontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Stress
influenced brain manifests several kind of neurodegenerative disorders.
•In further research we are framing a integrative perspective of understanding
how brain responds to stressful challenge

6. EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS
Group 1: Control
Group 2: Rats induced with Stress (through suitable method for inducing stress)
Group 3: Rats treated with Nigella sativa
Group 4: Stress induced Rats treated with Nigella sativa
ANIMALS : Adult healthy, Male Wistar rats
DURATION OF STRESS: Either sub chronic or chronic model of stress will be developed
depending on the pilot experiments conducted by exposure to stress like conditions
MODE OF STRESS EXPOSURE: Stress will be induced by either of the mentioned
methods., Electric shock induced stress / Exposure to adverse environmental stimuli / Fear and
anxiety based models/ Multiple stressors.
MODE OF ADMINISTRATION OF Nigella sativa : oral/diet
*Doses of Nigella sativa will be determined by keeping in mind the dose values available in the literature.
BODY AND ORGAN WEIGHTS: Body and organ weights of the control and treated animals will be
recorded during the experiment.

7. HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY: A section of brain will be dissected out after
sacrificing the rat, washed and processed for various morphological and
histopathological changes as per standard protocols.

8. Conclusion
• Stress may receive more attention by individuals due to their role in neurological
disorders and disease .
• Now a days to overcome the stress, many sedatives and other drugs are taken by
individuals. Stress show deleterious impact on cerebellum activity and modulate the
function of cerebellum. The process of stress mechanism on cerebellum and stress
induced cerebellum activity alteration is yet to be discovered.
• The significant role of herbal remedies in neurological disorders will be further
investigated in the present research work as they have less side effect, easily
available and highly effective .
• The present study focus on providing experimental evidence in favor of use of
Nigella sativa as neuro protectant.