Fig. 1
Representative photomicrographs of liver sections of the studied groups. a Normal control, b methanolic extract of Nigella sativa (MENS) control. Cells of both groups showed normal hepatic lobular architecture and hepatocytes with granulated cytoplasm and small uniform nucleus and nucleolus [hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, ×200]. c–e Group 3 (premalignant group): c focal areas of dysplasia marked with large prominent hyperchromatic nuclei, atypia and eosinophilic cytoplasm, d markedly congested portal tract, proliferated bile ductules, bile stasis and infiltration with some inflammatory cells; adjacent liver cells show dysplasia, hydropic degeneration and focal areas of necrosis, e changes in fat (both micro- and macro-vesicular) (H&E, ×400). f Group 4 [animals pretreated with MENS, then DENA (diethyl nitrosamine) and CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride)]; cells showed more or less normal histology and no inflammation, as evidenced by lesser leukocyte infiltration. Collectively, most of the histological disturbances observed in the premalignant group were greatly reduced (H&E, ×400)