Potential Effects of Nigella Sativa Supplementation in Coronary Heart Disease and other Cardiovascular Diseases

Coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered one of the worldwide leading causes of death and is characterized by either stenosis or occlusion of coronary arteries leading to myocardial ischemia or infarction respectively. Prevention of risk factors, improvement in biomarker levels and control of CHD are described as a strategic plan for Saudi Vision 2020-2030. Given the beneficial healthy effects of Nigella sativa (N. sativa), and since it is known that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of N. sativa are interconnected, the objective of this review is to compile and elucidate the potential role of N. sativa and its highly potential component thymoquinone (TQ) in CHD and other cardiovascular diseases. Since studies are rare for understanding the mode of action of N. sativa and TQ, the present review and articles for previous studies were searched through PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases using relevant keywords. The available randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that examined the effect of N. sativa supplementation on CHD and other cardiovascular diseases were mainly included. Serum parameters, including mainly the inflammatory markers, lipid profile, serum creatinine, leptin, resistin, ESR, hsCRP, vitamin D and other clinical, pathophysiological and biochemical factors, are discussed in association with the N. sativa supplementation in patients with CHD and other cardiovascular diseases. The present review helps understand the beneficial effects of N. sativa in coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases and explores the underlying mechanisms explaining how N. sativa reverts cardiovascular complications back towards normality.