Study of the effect of nigella sativa seeds on serum level of glucose and some lipoprotein fractions in patients with ischemic heart disease

Abstract EN

The seeds of Nigella sativa commonly known as black seed or black cumin, are used in folk (herbal) medicine for the treatment and prevention of a number of diseases and conditions including asthma, diarrhea and dyslipidemia.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the serum glucose and lipid pattern in 30 patients with well-established ischemic heart disease, their ages ranged from 35-70 years, before and three months after receiving Nigella sativa seeds in a dose of 200 mg twice daily.

To all patients, standard 12- leads ECG was performed.

Laboratory investigations included serum fasting and postprandial glucose, cretonne, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases activities, cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) were also performed and repeated, after three months of treatment with Nigella sativa seeds.

The clinical profile of the patients was stable angina.

The results of the present study showed a beneficial effect on reducing blood glucose levels especially in diabetic patients after intake of Nigella sativa seeds with minimal effect on glycemic subjects.

The mean percent change in fasting serum glucose level was 1.3% in non-diabetic cases and 14.7% in diabetics.

While the mean percent decrease in post prandial glucose level was 3% and 17.6% in non-diabetic and diabetic patients respectively.

Black seeds showed a significant favorable effect on increasing HDL-C (mean percent change 12.7%) as well as on lowering triglycerides values (mean percent decrease 21.2%).

Lipoprotein (a) level tended to decrease by 6.8% with risky Lp (a) level after receiving Nigella sativa seeds, although not to a significant extent.

Regarding the subjective patients complaints, there was evident improvement in the number and duration of angina attacks suggesting better improvement of clinical status.

From this study, it could be concluded that some change in serum level of glucose, HDL and lipoprotein (a) together with significant decrease in triglycerides level were present in patients with ischemic heart disease after intake of Nigella sativa seeds for three months.