title: Mechanisms of the antihypertensive effects of Nigella sativa oil in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine whether the blood pressure-lowering effect of Nigella sativa might be mediated by its effects on nitric oxide, angiotensin-converting enzyme, heme oxygenase and oxidative stress markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into 4 groups. One group served as the control (group 1), whereas the other three groups (groups 2-4) were administered L-NAME (25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Groups 3 and 4 were given oral nicardipine daily at a dose of 3 mg/kg and Nigella sativa oil at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg for 8 weeks, respectively, concomitantly with L-NAME administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nigella sativa oil prevented the increase in systolic blood pressure in the L-NAME-treated rats. The blood pressure reduction was associated with a reduction in cardiac lipid peroxidation product, NADPH oxidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and plasma nitric oxide, as well as with an increase in heme oxygenase-1 activity in the heart. The effects of Nigella sativa on blood pressure, lipid peroxidation product, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme were similar to those of nicardipine. In contrast, L-NAME had opposite effects on lipid peroxidation, angiotensin-converting enzyme and NO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa oil appears to be mediated by a reduction in cardiac oxidative stress and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, an increase in cardiac heme oxygenase-1 activity and a prevention of plasma nitric oxide loss. Thus, Nigella sativa oil might be beneficial for controlling hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kamsiah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaarin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wai Dic
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Foong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Min Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yeoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zaman Yusoff Nik
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Kamarul
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Haji Mohd Saad
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Qodriyah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Japar Sidik Fadhlullah
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zuhair
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Hamid
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Juliana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras/, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yusof
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamisah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D023421:Models, Animal; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010938:Plant Oils; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009529:Nicardipine; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester