The effect of black cumin oil supplementation on expression of fabkin complex in an experimental type 2 diabetes model

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, which develops as a result of impaired insulin secretion or the ineffectiveness of insulin in target tissues. The disease leads to various metabolic disturbances in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue in the long term and progresses with increased oxidative stress. In recent years, numerous studies have investigated the potential of natural supplements with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the treatment of diabetes. Black cumin oil (Nigella sativa) is one of the prominent herbal products in this field due to its active components. On the other hand, the Fabkin complex, recently identified as a metabolic regulator and synthesized in adipose tissue, muscle, and liver, has been reported to be associated with diabetes. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of black cumin oil supplementation on the gene expression of FABP4, ADK, and NDPK, which are components of the Fabkin complex, in rats with an experimentally induced model of type 2 diabetes. In the study, a total of 32 male Wistar rats were used. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: Control, Diabetes, Black Cumin Oil, and Diabetes + Black Cumin Oil. The diabetes model was induced by administering a high-fat diet for four weeks followed by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. After the diabetes diagnosis was confirmed, black cumin oil was administered to the relevant groups at a dose of 2.5 mL/kg for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed under anesthesia, and samples of adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver were collected. The expression levels of FABP4, ADK, and NDPK genes in these samples were analyzed using the RT-PCR method. According to the results, serum insulin levels and FABP4 gene expression in adipose tissue were higher in the diabetes group compared to the control group (p<0.05). In the diabetes group receiving black cumin oil supplementation, ADK gene expression higher in liver and muscle tissues (p<0.05), while NDPK expression lower in liver tissue (p<0.05). In conclusion, black cumin oil supplementation may exert a regulatory effect on insulin resistance and glucose metabolism through the Fabkin complex.