Hypolipidemic and hypocholestrolemic effect of medicinal plant combination in the diet of rats: Black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) and turmeric (Curcumin)

Abstract

A total of 24 rats were fed a diet either without (Groupl) or with black cumin seed 2% (Group 2) or turmeric 2% (Group 3) or plant combination (1% each; Group 4) for 6 weeks. Body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from all groups. The whole blood and harvested sera were used for determination of hematological and biochemical parameters, respectively. The body weight gain and feed conversation ratio were comparable in all treated group when compared with the control. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Hemoglobin percentage (Hb%) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) remained unchanged in all treated group when compared with the control. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed that serum total protein was significantly (p<0.05) higher in black seed (Group 2) and turmeric (Group 3) treated groups when compared with the control. Globulin value was significantly (p<0.05) higher in black cumin seed treated group than those of control and other groups. The hypolipidemic effect was recorded only in rats fed combination of medicinal plants. The hypocholestrolemia accompanied by lower level of Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) was recorded in rats fed both medicinal plants either alone or in combination. However, this effect was more pronounced in rats fed plants combination. The values of albumin, Alanme Transammase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), Very Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), uric acid and creatinme in all treated groups remained comparable to those of the control group. The present study concluded that plant combination was safe to the animals as reflected on unchanged liver and kidney function biomarkers. Interestingly, black cumin seed and turmeric has hypocholesterolemic effect whenever administered alone or in combination (1% each) whereas the hypolipidemic effect was related to the combined administration of both plants only in the diet of rats. © Medwell Journals, 2012.