EFFECT OF BLACK CUMIN (NIGELLA SATIVA) POWDER ON SERUM LIPID PROFILE, MALONDIALDHYDES, NITRITES, sICAM-1 AND sVCAM-1 IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Objective: Black cumin (Nigella Sativa), have been used for nutritional and medicinal purposes in many countries. This work was done to study the effect of black cumin powder during and after induction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-enriched diet fed rabbits. Methods: Thirty male New Zealand White rabbits, (4-5 months old, average body weight  1.5 kg) were used. Rabbits were divided into five groups:  negative control group, positive control group (fed atherogenic diet for 20 weeks); prophylactically treated group (each rabbit in this group fed atherogenic diet and given black cumin powder 150 mg/kg body weight /day by gavage for 20 weeks to show the possible protective effect of black cumin on atherosclerotic process); positive control group for development of atherosclerosis (fed atherogenic diet for 12 weeks); and Atherosclerotic treated group (each rabbit in this group fed atherogenic diet for 12 weeks and after the development of atherosclerosis received black cumin powder 150 mg/kg body weight /day by gavage to show the effect of black cumin on the progression of atherosclerosis). Results: Administration of black cumin during the development of atherosclerosis produced significant inhibition of aortic atherosclerotic changes. Also, administration of black cumin during or after the development of atherosclerosis produced significant decrease (P < 0.05) in total-cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol, Triglycerides (TG), Malondialdhydes (MDA), sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 while HDL-cholesterol and nitrite was significantly increased. Conclusion: Black cumin has anti-atherosclerotic effects which may be exerted by inhibiting the release of free radicals, hypocholesterolemic effect and through their effect on adhesion molecules.