Serum lipid profiles of albino rats fed with differently processed Nigella sativa-based diets

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the serum lipid profile of albino rats fed with differently processed N. sativa-based diets. Thirty male albino rats (Ratus norvegicus) randomly divided into five groups of six each and kept in the separate cages were used for the study. The treatment groups were given rat chow pellets containing raw (RAW), parboiled (PAN), boiled (BON) and roasted (RON) N. sativa dose at 10% supplementation while the control group (NOD) was fed with rat chow pellet without supplementation with N. sativa. The rats were sacrificed, at the end of 35 days, to collect blood samples for serum lidips evaluation. The plasma levels of Total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were determined. The results showed that RAN gave the highest value (in mg/dl) for TC (56.08±1.72) while BON gave the lowest value (45±1.90). The highest value for TG (72.66±5.32) by RAN and the lowest value by PAN. RAN gave the highest value (28.15±0.83) for HDL and the lowest value by BON (22.83±2.34); for LDL, PAN gave the highest value (13.6±0.94) and the lowest by BON (10.03±0. 90). Decrease in HDL and a concomitant increase in LDL and serum cholesterol is indicative of hyperlipaemia, a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. The increase in total cholesterol observed in the rats fed RAN, PAN, RON-formulated diets above NOD, decrease in the HDL observed in PAN, BON and RON, and increase in the levels of LDL in PAN, RAN and RON, though not too significant, may predispose animals to arthrosclerosis and other related diseases. The results, however, showed that the N. sativa seeds processed in any of the methods used in this study is safe for consumption as far as lipid profile is concerned.