Cardiovascular Benefits from the Use of Nigella Sativa

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 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that globally 31% of mortality occurs due to cardiovascular diseases. Among this, 46% of deaths happen because of ischemic heart disease.

Multiple risk factors like hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, and smoking are responsible for increasing cardiovascular diseases and associated death rates. [1]

Therefore, preventive measures to take care of our heart and associated vascular system is the only way to avoid such events in the future.

According to the recently published data by WHO, the annual growth rate of herbal medicine is almost 15%. [2
The increasing popularity and acceptance of herbal medicines reflect the fact. Nigella sativa attracts herbaceous plants researcher's eyes because of its multiple therapeutic benefits. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antilipidemic, and antibacterial effects of Nigella sativa are well-established. [1] The heart-healthy Nigella sativa is a safe and effective treatment against a variety of cardiovascular system disorders

 Beneficial constituents of Nigella Sativa

 Nigella sativa is a zed black colored triangular shaped tiny seeds contain 30 to 40% crude fat, 20–30% crude protein, 5–10% crude fiber, and different minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus. A wide range of fatty acids like linolenic, linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids are different fatty acid contents present in Nigella sativa along with fixed and volatile oil contents. Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the primary bioactive phytochemicals present in both volatile and fixed oil. [1] TQ has protective effects against atherosclerosis and also cardiovascular disease preventive effect due to its antioxidant property. [3]

 Potential benefits of Nigella Sativa against multiple cardiovascular diseases

 Researches have demonstrated the benefits of the administration of Nigella Sativa to control different cardiovascular ailments. For example:
  • Preclinical research reported that oil extracted from Nigella Sativa seeds could act against renovascular hypertension in study participants with the ischemic hypertensive condition. [4] Renovascular hypertension occurs due to the narrowing or blocking of renal arteries lead to the restricted blood supply to the kidneys. [5]
  • Nigella sativa seed extracts can give protection against cerebral ischemia. Clinically ischemia means blockage of blood vessels. [4] Furthermore, it has also found that the anti-ischemic effect of Nigella sativa seed extract significantly reduces blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic pressure, and serum lipid levels. Subsequently, it increases endothelial nitric oxide level. All these heart-healthy mechanisms of Nigella sativa seed are effective preventive measures against cardiovascular diseases. The human trial result reported that dietary intake of Nigella sativa seed preparation for three months showed anti-ischemic effects. [4]
  • Sudden deprivation of blood supply into the cardiac muscle leads to myocardial infarction. [6] Research had found that pre-treatment with Nigella sativa seed preparation helps to avoid deadly myocardial infarction. [4]
  • Preclinical research result does not find any side effect of long-term dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa formulation. Research experts recommended Nigella sativa as a dietary supplement for ischemic patients as a primary preventive measure against atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia to prevent serious consequences of coronary artery disease. [4]
  • The anti-dyslipidemic, antioxidative, and cardioprotective effects of Nigella Sativa are well-established through preclinical researches. Thus, Nigella Sativa might be used as an alternative or adjuvant therapeutic agent in combination with conventional treatment to reduce the risk of dyslipidemia that increases left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and cardiac ischemia. The human trial result had confirmed the anti-dyslipidemic effect of Nigella Sativa seed oil. [4]
  • Long-term Nigella Sativa administration improves cardiac contraction force and blood flow in the cardiac muscle (myocardium). Even a research study also had reported that prolong Nigella Sativa administration could also positively remodel heart anatomy. It could improve vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, and nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) antibodies (Ab). These are positive signs of coronary angiogenesis and can be used as a preventive measure for coronary artery disease. But a detailed research is required to establish the potential benefit of Nigella Sativa. [1]  
  • Type 2 diabetic patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases due to high plasma lipid concentration, hypertension which negatively impact heart rate. But a clinical trial result provides the evidential support that in Nigella sativa oral supplementation for one year in patients with type 2 diabetes as an adjuvant therapy effectively reduces LDL, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart rate. These findings specify the potential protective effect of this herbal ingredient against CVD risks associated with diabetes. [3]

Pharmacological actions of Nigella sativa

Nigella sativa imparts the following pharmacological actions, which are responsible for cardiovascular benefits.
Cardiac depressant action
Experts suggested that reversal of high blood pressure and heart rate due to Nigella sativa acts centrally and involves vasomotor center in the medulla and sympathetic outflow to the periphery, which induces cardiac depressant action. [7]
Calcium Channel Blockade
Herbal researchers proposed that Nigella sativa could inhibit calcium ion (Ca2+) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, reduce Ca2+ ion-induced the contractile system, and/or block Ca2+ influx across the membrane. This mechanism occurs due to the presence of another bioactive phytochemical, thymol, present in Nigella sativa. Thymol induces negative inotropic action on calcium (Ca2+) ion channels in a dose-dependent manner. [7] Therefore, dosing is an important factor for Nigella Sativa to provide cardiac benefits.
Diuretic
Diuretic effect means an increase in urinary excretion along with the elimination of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chlorine (Cl-) ions, and urea. Nigella Sativa intake increases glomerular filtration rate, urinary, and electrolyte excretion, which suggest that NS has a diuretic effect. This may responsible for its blood pressure-lowering effect. The complicated mechanism is a reduction of electrolytes, and water content leads to a decrease in blood volume. Subsequently, this reduces cardiac output and regulates blood pressure. [7]
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Therefore, the cardiovascular protective effects of Nigella Sativa can act as adjuvant therapy in combination with other cardiovascular medicine for individuals who have a higher risk of developing cardiac diseases.

 References
  1. Lubna I. Al Asoom. Coronary angiogenic effect of long-term administration of Nigella sativa. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017; 17: 308. Published online 2017 Jun 13. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1795-z. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470270/
  2. Mohd Sajjad, Ahmad Khan, IqbalAhmad. Chapter 1 - Herbal Medicine: Current Trends and Future Prospects. New Look to Phytomedicine. 2019, Pages 3-13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012814619400001X
  3. Ahmed Badar, Huda Kaatabi, Abdullah Bamosa, Abdulmohsen Al-Elq, BodourAbou-Hozaifa, Fatma Lebda, AkramAlkhadra, Sameeh Al-Almaie. Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation over a one-year period on lipid levels, blood pressure and heart rate in type-2 diabetic patients receiving oral hypoglycemic agents: a nonrandomized clinical trial. Ann Saudi Med. 2017 Jan-Feb; 37(1): 56–63. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2017.56. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148980/
  4. Ahmed A. A. Bader. Anti-Ischemic Properties of Nigella Sativa Against Cardiac and Non-Cardiovascular Ischemia. International Journal of Pharmacology & Toxicology / 5(1), 2015, 53-61. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271013445_Anti-Ischemic_Properties_of_Nigella_Sativa_Against_Cardiac_and_Non-Cardiovascular_Ischemia
  5. Renovascular hypertension. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000204.htm
  6. William C. Shiel Jr. Medical Definition of Myocardial infarction. MedicineNet. https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=26016
  7. Xin-Fang Leong, MohdRais Mustafa, KamsiahJaarin, "Nigella sativa and Its Protective Role in Oxidative Stress and Hypertension," Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID 120732, 9 pages, 2013.  https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/120732/