Protective Role of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) on Isoproterenol Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats

Background: For many years, serologic markers have been used to assist cardiologists in the diagnosis and management of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Once the serologic markers such as cardiac marker enzymes come to normal level upon a treatment, it clearly shows the treatment drug has the role in the management of MI. Objectives: The present study is designed to evaluate the effect of Nigella sativa seeds called black cumin on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in experimental rats. Materials and methods: The rats were randomly divided into four groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 rats received 1.0 ml of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) throughout the experimental period and served as the control. Group 2 rats received CMC as in group 1 and isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally twice at an interval of 24 hours on the 14th and 15th days. The rats in group 3 received black cumin (150 mg/kg body weight) intragastrically for a period of 15 days. Group 4 rats received black cumin and isoproterenol as said above and the experiment was terminated on 16th day and animals were sacrificed by cervical decapitation after an overnight fast. Blood was collected for the estimation of biochemical parameters and heart dissected out for biochemical estimation and histopathological examination. Results: Along with VLDL, TG, cholesterol, free fatty acids, the levels of marker enzymes in serum such as AST, ALT, LDH, CK, and tissue lipid profile of TG, cholesterol, free fatty acids were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), whereas the levels of CK-MB and HDL, LDL in serum and tissue lipid profile of phospholipids were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in rats pretreated with black cumin compared to that of the group which received isoproterenol alone. Conclusion: Pretreatment with black cumin offered a protective effect against isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats as evidenced by cardiac markers and lipid profile of the heart tissue.