J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2017 Jul;26(7):1514-1520. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2017.02.040. Epub 2017 Apr 7.
Effects of Nigella sativa Extract on Markers of Cerebral Angiogenesis after Global Ischemia of Brain in Rats.

Soleimannejad K1, Rahmani A2, Hatefi M3, Khataminia M4, Hafezi Ahmadi MR5, Asadollahi K6.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Reduction of permanent or transient cerebral blood flow may lead to some structural and functional changes of the brain, causing high mortality and morbidity. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa (NS) on markers of cerebral angiogenesis in rats induced by global brain ischemia.
METHODS:
Thirty-two male Wistar rats (250 ± 20 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups: group 1, control group receiving only normal saline; group 2, sham group undergoing surgery and stroke induction without treatment; and groups 3 and 4 treated with 10 and 20 mg/kg NS, respectively, after induction of stroke. Global ischemia was induced by ligation of the right carotid artery for 20 minutes.
RESULTS:
According to the results of this study, brain edema and infarct volume were significantly decreased in the group treated with 20 mg/kg NS compared with the group treated with 10 mg/kg NS (P < .05). Global ischemia caused a significant reduction in gene expression of vasoactive endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in the sham group compared with the control group (P < .05), but NS groups, in led to a significant increase in gene expression of VEGF and HIF compared with the sham group (P < .05). In addition, the activity level of matrix metallopeptidase-9 was decreased among NS groups compared with the control group (P < .05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Application of NS extract among rats with brain ischemia is associated with increase of VEGF and HIF as angiogenic markers and inhibition of matrix metallopeptidase-9 activities.
Copyright © 2017 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:
HIF; Nigella sativa; VEGF; cerebral ischemia; matrix metalloproteinase-9
PMID: 28396188

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Jun 13;17(1):308. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1795-z.
Coronary angiogenic effect of long-term administration of Nigella sativa.

Al Asoom LI1.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Coronary angiogenesis is one of the preferable adaptive responses of aerobic training. Previous studies found inotropic and hypertrophic cardiac effects for long-term administration of Nigella sativa (NS), but no studies have explored its coronary angiogenic effect. The present study compared the effect of long-term NS- administration and exercise training on the induction of coronary angiogenesis.
METHOD:
Fifteen adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, NS-fed, and exercise-trained (Ex). The NS-fed rats were administered 800 mg/Kg NS orally for eight weeks. The (Ex) rats were trained on a five-lane treadmill at a speed of 18 m/min and a grade of 32° for two hour/day for eight weeks. After the experiment, the hearts were extracted and immunohistological slides were prepared using rat vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), Von Willebrand factor (VWF) and nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) antibodies (Ab). Photomicrographs were analysed using ImageJ software, and the % of the immunostained-area of 10 fields per specimen was recorded.
RESULT:
VEGF was significantly higher in the NS- (2.59±1.37%) and Ex rats (2.51±1.86%) compared to the control group (1.58±0.78%) with P<0.01. The VWF was significantly lower in the two experimental groups (1.57±0.83%, 1.07±0.72%) for NS and Ex groups respectively, compared to the controls (2.38±1.72) with p<0.01. Only Ex group had a higher PECAM-1 (1.79±0.78%) and lower NOS-2 (0.83±0.57%) than the control group (1.19±1.17%, 1.25±1.19%) for PECAM-1 and NOS-2 with P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
The present study demonstrated an increase in VEGF and a decrease of the VWF in the hearts of Nigella-fed and exercise-trained rats. This might indicate the potentiality for induction of coronary angiogenesis via long-term administration of NS and exercise training. NS effect on coronary angiogenesis needs to be explored further as it might lead to a new promising preventive and therapeutic agent of the ischemic heart disease.
KEYWORDS:
Coronary angiogenesis; Exercise training; Nigella sativa; PECAM-1; VEGF; VWF
PMID: 28610577 PMCID: PMC5470270