Comparative evaluation of Nigella sativa (Kalonji) and simvastatin for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and in the induction of hepatotoxicity.

Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for incidence of coronary artery disease. Simvastatin is a synthetic lipid lowering drug and Nigella sativa seeds found helpful in controlling hyperlipidemia. The study performed to evaluate the efficacy of Nigella sativa in comparison to simvastatin to treat hyperlipidemia. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats fed on an ad libitum diet for 02 weeks, on cholesterol diet for 08 weeks. Then group II treated with simvastatin and group III with Nigella sativa for 06 weeks. Blood samples analyzed for serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C & serum ALT. The results evident that Nigella sativa (kalonji) and simvastatin showed significant improvement in the lipid profile of rats in respective groups after treatment. The p value <0.05 of group II and III documented that Nigella sativa (kalonji) affect the lipid profile in the same way as of simvastatin. However, ALT levels significantly raised in group II treated with simvastatin compared to group III. Nigella sativa and simvastatin showed comparable effects in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Nigella sativa showed protective role in terms of hepatic dysfunction and can be used as a cholesterol lowering agent.