Effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) on metabolic parameters in diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2015.01.013Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Nigella sativa can improve glycemic status in diabetes models.

  • N. sativa can improve lipid profiles in diabetes models.

  • N. sativa can be used as complementary therapies in diabetes mellitus.

Summary

Background

Current evidence indicated beneficial effects of some medicinal herbs on metabolic parameters. Nigella sativa is an example of herbs which can ameliorate metabolic factors in diabetes mellitus. Despite several narrative review studies on medicinal properties of NS, it seems that there is no systematic review to summarize effects of NS on glucose homoeostasis and lipid profile in diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the aim of present study was to review effects of N. sativa on metabolic parameters in diabetes mellitus.

Methods

Pubmed, Science Direct, Google scholar and Springer databases were searched from 1995 till January 2014. Key words were included: N. sativa, black seed, diabetes, glucose level, lipid and insulin. Searching was limited to articles with English language. Review articles, case reports, abstract in symposium and congress, studies on N. sativa mixed with other plants were excluded. Based on critically appraise, eligibility of included articles were evaluated.

Results

Finally 19 eligible articles (2 human trials, 14 animal models and 3 in vivo/in vitro studies) were selected. They indicated that N. sativa can modulate hyperglycemia and lipid profile dysfunction with various potential mechanisms including its antioxidant characteristics and effects on insulin secretion, glucose absorption, gluconeogenesis and gene expression. Some studies compared effects of various types (extract, oil, powdered) of N. sativa with each other and they reported different characteristics with various types of black seed.

Conclusion

N. sativa can improve glycemic status and lipid profile in diabetes models. However, more clinical trials are necessary to clarify beneficial effects of N. sativa, its effective type and dosage for diabetes management and its complications.

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern characterized by impairment in insulin secretion or insulin action. According to an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report, the prevalence of diabetes was 171 million in 2001 and it is expected to increase to 366 million by 2030.1 Following the metabolic dysfunction in DM, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, infection, morbidity and mortality can increase.2, 3 For controlling diabetes, various treatments including diet, life style changes, biochemical and herbal medicine in combine or alone have been used.4, 5 Many populations consume complementary and alternative medicine and there is high tendency to use medicinal herbs for diabetes treatment in worldwide.6 Due to side effects of some chemical drugs and high tendency of people to consume medicinal herbs, World Health Organization (WHO) persuades researchers to study efficacy and side effects of medicinal herbs with potential therapeutic properties.7

Current evidence indicated beneficial effects of some medicinal herbs such as Urtica dioica, Trigonella foenum and Nigella sativa (NS) for controlling glucose level and lipid profile in diabetes models.8, 9, 10 NS or black seed is one of the medicinal plants with anti-hyperglycemia and anti-hyperlipidemia characteristics.11 It is a plant of Ranunculaceae family which grows widely in many Middle Eastern countries. Its seed colored black and tastes bitter.12 N.sativa has various chemical components including thymoquinone (TQ), unsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, nigellone, p-cymene and carvone. It is used in traditional medicine in different forms (powder, extract and oil).12, 13 Evidence indicated many medical characteristics of N.sativa including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.14, 15 Also anti-diabetic effects of black seed have been reported in several studies.16, 17, 18 Despite several narrative review studies on medicinal properties of NS, it seems that there is no systematic review to summarize glucose homoeostasis and lipid profile effects of NS in diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the aim of present study was to evaluate effects of N. sativa on glycemic status and lipid profile in DM.

Section snippets

Article selection

We searched databases of Pubmed, Science Direct, Google scholar and Springer from 1995 till January 2014. Key words were selected based on Mesh terms. They were included: “N. sativa” or “black seed” or “black cumin” and “diabetes”, “glucose level”, “lipid”, and “insulin”. Also we hand searched references of articles. Two reviewers extracted data independently, and then titles and abstracts of each article were assessed to delete duplication data. Any irrelevant papers were excluded. The

Summary of studies and potential mechanisms

Studies were classified into three groups: human, animal and in vivo/in vitro studies.

Future prospects

Despite positive effects of NS on metabolic parameters in diabetes models, limited clinical trials with no placebo group evaluated anti-hyperglycemia and anti-hyperlipidemia effects of NS. For future studies, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials were suggested to evaluate NS on glucose homeostasis and lipid concentrations in DM.

Conclusion

N. sativa can improve glucose homeostasis and lipid profiles in diabetes models with various potential mechanisms. Modulation of metabolic parameters in DM can prevent diabetes complications including atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, NS can be used as complementary therapies in DM. But due to differences in models, chemical compositions of difference sources of NS, dosage, and duration of intervention, it is difficult to determine effective type and dosage of NS in

Conflict of interest

Authors declared no conflict of interest.

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