European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATING THE CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING EFFICACY OF NIGELLA SATIVA EXTRACT IN A RAT MODEL OF DIET-INDUCED HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Shaik Manisha*, Shaik Sumaiya Tabasssum, M. Pravallika, Shaik Abdul Farook Ahamad and Dr. Apada Reddy Gangadasu

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the cholesterol-lowering effects of Nigella sativa seed extract in a rat model of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. The experiment utilized a Soxhlet extraction method with methanol-water (70:30 v/v) to obtain the extract, followed by phytochemical analysis. Rats were divided into five groups: a control group on a regular diet, a high-cholesterol diet group without treatment, and three treatment groups on a high- cholesterol diet receiving either Atorvastatin (10mg/kg) or Nigella sativa extract at 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg doses. Over 21 days, the control group showed a minor increase in cholesterol levels from 59.04 mg/dl to 63.94 mg/dl. In contrast, the high-cholesterol diet group significantly rise from 129.8 mg/dl to 171 mg/dl. Atorvastatin treatment resulted in a moderated increase from 51.22 mg/dl to 91.06 mg/dl. Groups treated with Nigella sativa extract showed intermediate increases (250mg/kg: 102.6 mg/dl to 130 mg/dl; 500mg/kg: 88.6 mg/dl to 117.8 mg/dl). The efficacy of Nigella sativa was calculated as 33.50% for the 250mg/kg dose and 29.13% for the 500mg/kg dose, compared to the untreated high cholesterol group. These results were slightly lower than those of Atorvastatin, which showed an efficacy of 31.22% for the 250mg/kg dose and 26.71% for the 500mg/kg dose. The study demonstrates that while Nigella sativa seed extract has a moderate cholesterol-lowering effect, its efficacy exhibits a potential plateau beyond a specific dosage and is less effective than Atorvastatin.

Keywords: Nigella sativa, Hypercholesterolemia treatment, Antihyperlipidemic effect, Rat model cholesterol, Antihyperlipidemic effect, Herbal medicine cardiovascular.