Black cumin ethanolic extract reduce aortic intima media thickness due to cigarette smoke exposure in experimental rats

Background and Aims: Cigarette smoking could induce pro-atherogenic changes seen in endothelial cells and increase inflammation markers due to oxidative stress. This can lead to increased intima media thickness of blood vessel and accelerate atherosclerosis. Black cumin (Nigella sativa) may inhibit oxidative stress. Aim of this study is to explore the link between cigarette smoking exposure to endothelial-nitric oxide synthase and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 as well as the protective effects of black cumin in reducing aortic intima media thickness caused by cigarette smoking. Methods: An experimental study with post-test only controlled group design was used in this study. Fifty Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into five groups: negative control (K(-)); positive control (K)+)) which exposed to 40 cigarettes/day for 4 weeks; and three groups exposed to cigarette smoke with the administration of black cumin ethanolic extract for four weeks at different doses: 0.3 g/kg/day (P1); 0.6 g/kg/day (P2); and 1.2 g/kg/day (P3). After interventions, aorta was removed and examined to measure the level of e-NOS, VCAM-1, and IMT. Results: Using linear regression model, we found that black cumin ethanolic extract decreased VCAM-1 expression. VCAM-1 was positively correlated with aortic IMT (r2 = 0.102, β = 0.319, p = 0.038). Black cumin ethanolic extract also increase e-NOS levels, however e-NOS did not correlate with aortic IMT (r2 = 0.165, p = 0.094).There were significant correlations between black cumin ethanolic extract with increased e-NOS, decreased VCAM-1, and decreased aortic IMT. Conclusions: Increased e-NOS and decreased VCAM-1 expression following black cumin ethanolic extract administration in rats exposed to cigarette smoke showed that black cumin may prevent endothelial dysfunction.