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Al Asoom L, Alassaf MA, AlSulaiman NS, Boumarah DN, Almubireek AM, Alkaltham GK, Alhawaj HA, Alkhamis T, Rafique N, Alsunni A, Latif R, Alsaif S, Almohazey D, AbdulAzeez S, Borgio JF. The Effectiveness of Nigella sativa and Ginger as Appetite Suppressants: An Experimental Study on Healthy Wistar Rats [Response to Letter]. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2023; 19:753-754. [PMID: 38025515 PMCID: PMC10675636 DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.s447262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Al Asoom
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha A Alassaf
- King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najd S AlSulaiman
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dhuha N Boumarah
- Department of Surgery, King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aldana M Almubireek
- King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gaeda K Alkaltham
- King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain A Alhawaj
- Animal House, Environmental Health Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultation, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Taleb Alkhamis
- Animal House, Environmental Health Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultation, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nazish Rafique
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Alsunni
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rabia Latif
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Seham Alsaif
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dana Almohazey
- Department of Stem Cell Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sayed AbdulAzeez
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - J Francis Borgio
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Al Asoom L, Alassaf MA, AlSulaiman NS, Boumarah DN, Almubireek AM, Alkaltham GK, Alhawaj HA, Alkhamis T, Rafique N, Alsunni A, Latif R, Alsaif S, Almohazey D, AbdulAzeez S, Borgio JF. The Effectiveness of Nigella sativa and Ginger as Appetite Suppressants: An Experimental Study on Healthy Wistar Rats. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2023; 19:1-11. [PMID: 36647392 PMCID: PMC9840438 DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.s396295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Obesity is a global pandemic that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Natural herbs are commonly used for weight reduction and appetite suppression. Therefore, we aim to investigate the role and mechanism of Nigella sativa (NS) and ginger on weight reduction and appetite regulation. Methods This experimental study was performed at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. Twenty-five female rats were distributed into 5 groups: NS (oral 1000mg/kg), Ginger (500 mg/kg), NS-ginger (both interventions), a positive control (intraperitoneal 50 μg/kg Liraglutide), and a negative control. Each intervention was given for 9 weeks. Food intake and body weight were assessed weekly. Serum lipid profile and peptides involved in appetite control (cholecystokinin (CCK), glucagon-like peptide 1(GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), ghrelin, peptide YY, and orexin) were assayed at the end of the experiment. Results None of the interventions showed a statistically significant difference regarding food consumption or weight gain (p > 0.05). However, the three interventions significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC), NS and NS-ginger significantly increased HDL, NS increased ghrelin and ginger increased orexin. Conclusion The present dose and duration of NS, ginger, or in combination did not demonstrate a significant change in body weight or food consumption in comparison to the negative or positive controls. However, NS or ginger has improved the lipid profile by reducing TC and increasing HDL. In addition, NS or ginger can influence some of the peptides involved in appetite regulation such as the increase in ghrelin induced by NS and the reduction of orexin induced by ginger. We believe that these latter effects are novel and might indicate a promising effect of these natural products on appetite regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Al Asoom
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha A Alassaf
- King Fahd hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najd S AlSulaiman
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dhuha N Boumarah
- Department of Surgery, King Fahd Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aldana M Almubireek
- King Fahd hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gaeda K Alkaltham
- King Fahd hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain A Alhawaj
- Animal House, Environmental Health Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultation, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Taleb Alkhamis
- Animal House, Environmental Health Department, Institute for Research and Medical Consultation, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nazish Rafique
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Alsunni
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rabia Latif
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Seham Alsaif
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dana Almohazey
- Department of Stem Cell Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sayed AbdulAzeez
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - J Francis Borgio
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Al Asoom L. Is Nigella sativa an Effective Bodyweight Lowering Agent and a Mitigator of Obesity Risk? A Literature Review. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2022; 18:495-505. [PMID: 35855753 PMCID: PMC9288173 DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.s373702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is one of the major health-threatening conditions nowadays. Nigella sativa (NS) is a medicinal plant that demonstrates multiple therapeutic effects. In the current review, we aim to evaluate the weight lowering effect of NS in both clinical trials and experimental studies and to explore the possible reported mechanisms of this effect. We searched PubMed and Web of science and retrieved 14 clinical trials and 5 experimental studies that justify our inclusion criteria. After the analysis of these articles, we can conclude that long-term administration of NS for 6–12 weeks can significantly lower bodyweight and other anthropometric indices. NS-oil is more potent than NS-powder in lowering bodyweight probably due to the higher concentration of fatty acids and thymoquinone. The weight lowering effect of NS is not a toxic effect, it conversely and preferably lowers the elevated liver enzymes in condition of fatty liver. It is also frequently accompanied by positive metabolic modifications, such as enhancement of lipid profile, lowering blood glucose and improving insulin resistance. Possible mechanisms for NS-bodyweight lowering effect might include an appetite-suppression effect, lowering caloric-intake and inhibition of intestinal glucose absorption. However, further experimental evidence is required to support these mechanisms or unveil new ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Al Asoom
- Physiology Department, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Molecular Mechanisms of Nigella sativa- and Nigella sativa Exercise-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rats. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:5553022. [PMID: 34055008 PMCID: PMC8143887 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5553022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Background In our lab, we demonstrated cardiac hypertrophy induced by long-term administration of Nigella sativa (Ns) with enhanced function. Therefore, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms of Ns-induced cardiac hypertrophy, compare it with that induced by exercise training, and explore any possible synergistic effect of these two interventions. Method Twenty adult Wistar male rats were divided into control (C), Ns-fed (N.s.), exercise-trained (Ex.), Ns-fed exercise-trained (N.s.Ex.) groups. 800 mg/kg of Ns was administered orally to N.s. rats. Ex. rats were trained on a treadmill with speed 18 m/min and grade 32° for two hours daily, and the N.s.Ex. group underwent both interventions. After 8 weeks, Immunohistochemical slides of the left ventricles were prepared using rat growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), angiotensin-II receptors 1 (AT-I), endothelin-I (ET-1), Akt-1, and Erk-1. Cell diameter and number of nuclei were measured. Results Cardiomyocyte diameter, number of nuclei, GH, and Akt were significantly higher in N.s, Ex., and N.s.Ex groups compared with the controls. IGF-I, AT-1, and ET-1 were significantly higher in Ex. rats only compared with the controls. Erk-1 was lower in N.s., Ex., and N.s.Ex. compared with the controls. Conclusion We can conclude that Ns-induced cardiac hypertrophy is mediated by the GH-IGF I-PI3P-Akt pathway. Supplementation of Ns to exercise training protocol can block the upregulation of AT-I and ET-1. The combined N.s. exercise-induced cardiac hypertrophy might be a superior model of physiological cardiac hypertrophy and be used as a prophylactic therapy for athletes who are engaged in vigorous exercise activity.
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Al Asoom LI. Coronary angiogenic effect of long-term administration of Nigella sativa. Altern Ther Health Med 2017; 17:308. [PMID: 28610577 PMCID: PMC5470270 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1795-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Coronary angiogenesis is one of the preferable adaptive responses of aerobic training. Previous studies found inotropic and hypertrophic cardiac effects for long-term administration of Nigella sativa (NS), but no studies have explored its coronary angiogenic effect. The present study compared the effect of long-term NS- administration and exercise training on the induction of coronary angiogenesis. Method Fifteen adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, NS-fed, and exercise-trained (Ex). The NS-fed rats were administered 800 mg/Kg NS orally for eight weeks. The (Ex) rats were trained on a five-lane treadmill at a speed of 18 m/min and a grade of 32° for two hour/day for eight weeks. After the experiment, the hearts were extracted and immunohistological slides were prepared using rat vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), Von Willebrand factor (VWF) and nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) antibodies (Ab). Photomicrographs were analysed using ImageJ software, and the % of the immunostained-area of 10 fields per specimen was recorded. Result VEGF was significantly higher in the NS- (2.59±1.37%) and Ex rats (2.51±1.86%) compared to the control group (1.58±0.78%) with P<0.01. The VWF was significantly lower in the two experimental groups (1.57±0.83%, 1.07±0.72%) for NS and Ex groups respectively, compared to the controls (2.38±1.72) with p<0.01. Only Ex group had a higher PECAM-1 (1.79±0.78%) and lower NOS-2 (0.83±0.57%) than the control group (1.19±1.17%, 1.25±1.19%) for PECAM-1 and NOS-2 with P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively. Conclusions The present study demonstrated an increase in VEGF and a decrease of the VWF in the hearts of Nigella-fed and exercise-trained rats. This might indicate the potentiality for induction of coronary angiogenesis via long-term administration of NS and exercise training. NS effect on coronary angiogenesis needs to be explored further as it might lead to a new promising preventive and therapeutic agent of the ischemic heart disease.
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Farhangi MA, Dehghan P, Tajmiri S, Abbasi MM. The effects of Nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) - 1, Nesfatin-1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a randomized controlled trial. Altern Ther Health Med 2016; 16:471. [PMID: 27852303 PMCID: PMC5112739 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1432-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder and the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The use of Nigella sativa, a potent herbal medicine, continues to increase worldwide as an alternative treatment of several chronic diseases including hyperlipidemia, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of Nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) – 1, Nesfatin-1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Methods Forty patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, aged between 22 and 50 years old, participated in the trial and were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control receiving powdered Nigella sativa or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Changes in anthropometric variables, dietary intakes, thyroid status, serum VEGF and Nesfatin-1 concentrations after 8 weeks were measured. Results Treatment with Nigella sativa significantly reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI). Serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies decreased while serum T3 concentrations increased in Nigella sativa-treated group after 8 weeks. There was a significant reduction in serum VEGF concentrations in intervention group. None of these changes had been observed in placebo treated group. In stepwise multiple regression model, changes in waist to hip ratio (WHR) and thyroid hormones were significant predictors of changes in serum VEGF and Nesgfatin-1 values in Nigella sativa treated group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Our data showed a potent beneficial effect of powdered Nigella sativa in improving thyroid status and anthropometric variables in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Moreover, Nigella sativa significantly reduced serum VEGF concentrations in these patients. Considering observed health- promoting effect of this medicinal plant in ameliorating the disease severity, it can be regarded as a useful therapeutic approach in management of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Trial registration Iranian registry of clinical trials (registration number IRCT2015021719082N4- Registered March-15-2015).
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