Therapeutic evaluation of the concurrent administration of nigella sativa and vitamin E in treatment of rats suffering from induced diabetes and hypercholesterolemia

ABSTRACT

The present study is conducted to investigate the effect of Nigella sativa and vitamin E in treatment of rats suffering from alloxan-induced diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. The experiment was carried out on 42 male Albino rats weighing [115 +/- 5 gm]. The rats were divided into 6 equal groups; each of 7 rats; as follows 1st group fed on basal diet and kept as a control negative group. Rats in the other five groups fed two weeks on basal diet containing cholesterol [1.5%] and bile salts [0.25%] to induce hypercholesterolemia also rats in the five groups were all injected subcutaneously with 150 mg/kg body weight of alloxan after fasting overnight to induce hyperglycemic diabetes, then those rats were subdivided into a group that remained as induced diabetic and hypercholesterolemic 'control positive' [2nd group], a group that fed on basal diet + Nigella sativa 2% [NS2%] [3rd group]; a group that fed on basal diet + Nigella sativa 5% [NS5%] [4th group]; a group that fed on basal diet + Nigella sativa 2% + 150mg vitamin E [NS2%+Vit. E150 mg] [5th group], and a group that fed on basal diet + dietary supplemented with Nigella sativa 5%+ Vitamin E 300mg [NS5%+Vit. E300 mg] [6th group]. The results showed that, glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides decreased significantly when rats fed on basal diet containing high doses of Nigella sativa [5%] with vitamin E compared to low doses [2%] without vitamin E. Also, the mean values of serum HDL-c of all treated rats with different dosages were increased significantly, as compared to [control +] group. The mean values of uric acid was decreased gradually with increased the amount of Nigella sativa, and the best treated group which decreased urea nitrogen was nigella sativa 5% when compared with [control +] or the other treated groups, while Nigella sativa 5% with vitamin E considered the best treated group to decrease serum creatinine. Also., data showed that serum AST level were decreased in all treated groups that fed on Nigella sativa 2% or 5% with vitamin E compared with the [control +]. The study recommended the fortification of diets and bakery products and other suitable food which offered to diabetic patients with Nigella sativa 5% + vitamin E 300 mg in order to decline the symptoms of diabetes and protect against its related complications. Also, from the obtained results it can be concluded that, Nigella sativa 5% supplementation gave the best results in modification of lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats