Evaluation of therapeutic effects of royal jelly versus Nigella sativa oil on some brain areas affected by acute methanol poisoning in rats.

Methanol (CH3OH) is one of the toxic alcohols that has high morbidity and mortality. It causes lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Antioxidants and neuroprotective agents could have therapeutic roles in case of methanol exposure. The aim of this research was to assess the therapeutic impact of royal jelly (RJ) versus Nigella sativa oil (NS) on brain areas affected by acute methanol poisoning in rats. This research was performed on 60 adult male albino rats that were randomly assigned to four groups: the negative control group (I), the positive control group (II), the methanol-intoxicated group (III), and the methanol and adjuvant treatment treated group (IV) which were categorized into two subgroups: the methanol and RJ treated group (IV a) and the methanol and NS treated group (IV b). After two weeks, the blood samples were obtained to determine the total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The frontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus were excised and subjected to histopathological and transmission electron microscopic examination. Acute methanol poisoning induced oxidative stress, indicated by a significant reduction of TAC and marked degenerative changes in nerve cells and nerve fibers. Moreover, the administration of RJ and NS six hours after induction of acute methanol poisoning showed an increase in TAC compared to group III and a non-significant reduction compared to group II, with marked improvement and restoration of the normal brain architecture. Therefore, RJ and NS are effective in reducing the oxidative stress induced by acute methanol poisoning.