Ameliorative Activities and Safety of Moringa Oleifera Oil and Nigella Sativa Oil on Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Numerous medicinal plants have been explored as therapy for hyperlipidemia which could be induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Aims and Objectives: The ameliorative effects of Moringa oleifera oil and Nigella sativa oil and their safety on diet-induced hyperlipidemic Wistar rats were examined. Materials and Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were distributed into six groups of five each. Group 1 was the control group while the other groups were fed with HFD. Groups 3–6 were treated using 1 ml/kg BW of M. oleifera oil, 0.5 ml/kg BW M. oleifera oil, 1 ml/kg BW N. sativa oil, and 0.5 ml/kg BW N. sativa oil, respectively, for 10 days. The plasma total and tissue cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferases (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were analyzed. Results: M. oleifera oil and N. sativa oil (1 ml/kg BW and 0.5 ml/kg BW) showed significant reduction at (P < 0.05) in total plasma cholesterol and lipid levels compared to the control group but had no significant effects on the activities of AST, ALT, and ALP. Conclusion: The study proved that M. oleifera and N. sativa oil ameliorate diet-induced hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats by reducing plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and increasing HDL levels and show no adverse effects on the activities of the liver enzymes.