Cardiac inotropic and hypertrophic effects of Nigella sativa supplementation in rats

The intrinsic cardiac responses to 2-months Nigella sativa (black seed) oral supplementation (800 mg/kg) in rats were investigated. The isolated hearts were perfused in a Langendorff preparation to demonstrate the effects of N. sativa on the baseline inotropic and chronotropic functions and the myocardial flow rate. N. sativa supplementation induced moderate global (homogenous) cardiac hypertrophy, evident by significant increases in left ventricular and whole heart weights as well as the relative heart weight/body weight ratio. The isolated perfused hearts of Nigella-treated rats showed enhanced levels of baseline peak tension, maximum rate of tension development, heart rate and myocardial flow rate. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the tension developed per gram left ventricular weight. The present study provides the first evidence of a physiological cardiac hypertrophy in rats induced by long term N. sativa supplementation.