Abstract

The seeds of Nigella sativa L. (black seed) have been used as a natural remedy to treat many diseases, including hyperlipidemia in some folk medicine. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of dietary black seed in hyperlipidemic rabbits. Twenty four New Zealand male rabbits were fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 1 month and then were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group which received the previous hypercholesterolemic diet and the black seed group which was fed 7.5 g/kg b.w/day crushed black seed + 0.5% cholesterol diet, each for 2 months. Fasting blood samples were obtained at baseline, after hyperlipidemia, 1 month and 2 months of treatment to determine serum lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA), level, total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL.C) and MDA were significantly lowered in black seed group (P < 0.05), as compared to control group at the end of study, but there were no significant differences in the levels of TAS, SOD and GPX between groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that dietary black seed can favorably decrease serum lipid profile and lipid peroxidation levels in hyperlipidemic rabbits, therefore, it may be considered as a useful therapy for hyperlipidemia.

Key words: Nigella sativa, lipid profile, malondialdehyde, antioxidant status, rabbits.