Generality and Mechanism of Intracellular pH Effect on Vascular Tone

Both the net effects and the mechanisms of action of intracellular pH (pHi) perturbations upon vascular tone have been investigated. pHi was modified using two procedures; NH4Cl application and withdrawal (NH4Cl pulse) and organic salt application. NH4Cl application and its subsequent withdrawal have been found to produce intracellular alkalinity and acidity, respectively, in various non-vascular (Roos and Boron, 1981; Thomas, 1984) as well as vascular tissues (Spurway and Wray, 1987). Application of weak organic salts has been found to decrease pHi in various tissues (Roos and Boron, 1981). Most experiments concerned with mechanism were carried out on one or both of two preparations: the rabbit ear vascular bed perfused through its central artery and the isolated perfused rat tail artery, each activated with NA, at about 2

Comparative study of <i>Nigella</i> <i>Sativa</i> and triple therapy in eradication of <i>Helicobacter Pylori</i> in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia

Background/Aim: A large number of diseases are ascribed to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), particularly chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Successful treatment of H. pylori infection with antimicrobial agents can lead to regression of H. pylori-associated disorders. Antibiotic resistance against H. pylori is increasing, and it is necessary to find new effective agents. Nigella sativa seed (NS), a commonly used herb, possesses in vitro anti-helicobacter activity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of NS in eradication of H. pylori infection in non-ulcer dyspeptic patients. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 88 adult patients attending King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, from 2007 to 2008, with dyspeptic symptoms and found positive for H. pylori infection by histopathology and urease test. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups, receiving i) triple therapy (TT) comprising of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, omeprazole [n= 23], ii) 1 g NS &#x002B; 40 mg omeprazole (OM) [n= 21], iii) 2 g NS &#x002B; OM [n= 21] or iv) 3 g NS &#x002B; OM [n= 23]. Negative H. pylori stool antigen test four weeks after end of treatment was considered as eradication. Results: H. pylori eradication was 82.6, 47.6, 66.7 and 47.8&#x0025; with TT, 1 g NS, 2 g NS and 3 g NS, respectively. Eradication rates with 2 g NS and TT were statistically not different from each other, whereas H. pylori eradication with other doses was significantly less than that with TT (P &lt; 0.05). Dyspepsia symptoms improved in all groups to a similar extent. Conclusions: N. sativa seeds possess clinically useful anti-H. pylori activity, comparable to triple therapy. Further clinical studies combining N. sativa with antibiotics are suggested

Favorable impact of Nigella sativa seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients

Background and Aim: The atherogenic pattern of dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasingly discussed. We have recently reported a hypoglycemic effect of Nigella sativa (NS) seeds in patients with type 2 DM. In this study we sought to assess the impact of NS seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients. Patients and Method: A total of 94 patients with type 2 DM were recruited and divided into 3 dose groups. Capsules containing NS were administered orally in a dose of 1, 2, and 3 g/day for 12 weeks. All patients were subjected to measurement of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) before treatment and 4, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter. Results: Patients receiving 1 g/day NS seeds for 12 weeks (group 1) showed nonsignificant changes in all the parameters except for a significant increase in HDL-c after 4 weeks of treatment. However, patients ingested 2 g/day NS displayed a significant decline in TC, TG, and LDL-c, and a significant elevation in HDL-c/LDL-c, compared with their baseline data and to group 1 patients. Increasing NS dose to 3 g/day failed to show any increase in the hypolipdemic effect produced by the 2 g/day dose. Conclusion: NS supplementation at a dose of 2 g/day for 12 weeks may improve the dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, NS is a potential protective natural agent against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications in these patients

Nigella sativa: A potential natural protective agent against cardiac dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objectives: To study the effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on cardiac functions in Type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral hypoglycemic agents. Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A number of reported beneficial effects of N. sativa on cardiovascular function were the inspiration for this study. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with uncontrolled diabetes (hemoglobin A 1c [HbA 1c ] >7%) and with no known cardiovascular complications were recruited from the outpatient diabetes clinic. They were assigned, by convenience, to two groups; the control group received activated charcoal as placebo while the test group received 2 g/day of powdered N. sativa for 1-year. All patients continued with their standard oral hypoglycemic agents. Echocardiography was used to evaluate the diastolic function, systolic function, and left ventricular mass (LVM) before the intervention and after 6 and 12 months of the treatment. Results: HbA 1c decreased significantly in the N. sativa group but did not change in the control group. Echocardiographic assessment in the control group showed impairment in diastolic function after 12 months, but there were no significant changes in fractional shortening (FS) or ejection fraction (EF). Furthermore, left ventricular (LV) dimensions at diastole and systole, LVM, and LVM index were significantly increased. In N. sativa group, no significant changes were found in diastolic function or LVM. LV dimension at systole was decreased while FS and EF were significantly increased after 6 and 12 months. Conclusion: N. sativa supplementation may protect the hearts of type 2 diabetic patients from diastolic dysfunction while improving LV systolic function

Nigella sativa Improves Glycemic Control and Ameliorates Oxidative Stress in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Placebo Controlled Participant Blinded Clinical Trial

<div><p>Background and Objective</p><p>Oxidative stress plays an important role in pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Our previous study has shown glucose lowering effect produced by 3 months supplementation of Nigella sativa (NS) in combination with oral hypoglycemic drugs among type 2 diabetics. This study explored the long term glucose lowering effect (over one year) of NS in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on oral hypoglycemic drugs and to study its effect on redox status of such patients.</p><p>Methods</p><p>114 type 2 diabetic patients on standard oral hypoglycemic drugs were assigned into 2 groups by convenience. The control group (n = 57) received activated charcoal as placebo and NS group (n = 57) received 2g NS, daily, for one year in addition to their standard medications. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), C- peptide, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) at the baseline, and every 3 months thereafter were determined. Insulin resistance and β-cell activity were calculated using HOMA 2 calculator.</p><p>Results</p><p>Comparison between the two groups showed a significant drop in FBG (from 180±5.75 to 180±5.59 in control Vs from 195±6.57 to 172 ±5.83 in NS group), HbA1c (from 8.2±0.12 to 8.5±0.14 in control VS from 8.6±0.13 to 8.2±0.14 in NS group), and TBARS (from 48.3±6.89 to 52.9 ±5.82 in control VS from 54.1±4.64 to 41.9 ±3.16 in NS group), in addition to a significant elevation in TAC, SOD and glutathione in NS patients compared to controls. In NS group, insulin resistance was significantly lower, while β-cell activity was significantly higher than the baseline values during the whole treatment period.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Long term supplementation with Nigella sativa improves glucose homeostasis and enhances antioxidant defense system in type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI) <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/CTRI/2013/06/003781" target="_blank">CTRI/2013/06/003781</a></p></div

Comparison of glycemic variables; fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobinA_1c (HbA_1c), C- peptide, insulin resistance, and β-cell activity between the control (placebo) group and N. sativa group at different treatment durations.

<p>Number of patients in parenthesis ()</p><p>*Differences are significant at P ≤ 0.05</p><p>Comparison of glycemic variables; fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobinA_1c (HbA_1c), C- peptide, insulin resistance, and β-cell activity between the control (placebo) group and N. sativa group at different treatment durations.</p

Changes in Fasting blood glucose (FBG), Hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c), C- peptide (C-pept), Insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell activity at different treatment durations, compared to their corresponding baseline values, in the control (placebo) and N. sativa groups.

<p>n = number of patients B = baseline values m = months</p><p>Analysis was carried out using Linear Mixed Model in SPSS.</p><p>*Difference is significant at P ≤ 0.05.</p><p>Changes in Fasting blood glucose (FBG), Hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c), C- peptide (C-pept), Insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell activity at different treatment durations, compared to their corresponding baseline values, in the control (placebo) and N. sativa groups.</p

Flow of Patients from enrollment to the end of study.

<p>Flow of Patients from enrollment to the end of study.</p

Changes in Total antioxidants capacity (TAC), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, Catalase (CAT) activity, Glutathione and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) at different treatment durations, in control (placebo) group and N. sativa group, compared to their corresponding baseline values.

<p>n = number of patients B = baseline values m = months</p><p>Analysis was carried out using Linear Mixed Model in SPSS.</p><p>*Difference is significant at P ≤ 0.05.</p><p>Changes in Total antioxidants capacity (TAC), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, Catalase (CAT) activity, Glutathione and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) at different treatment durations, in control (placebo) group and N. sativa group, compared to their corresponding baseline values.</p