Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.66224/ari.2026.373171.4172
Abstract
Introduction: Atherosclerosis drives coronary artery disease and related cardiovascular pathologies. This study evaluated the combined therapeutic effects of an innovative co-treatment strategy using berberine and Nigella sativa L. (black seed) oil in a C57BL/6J mouse model.
Materials and Methods: A berberine-loaded black seed oil nanoemulsion was prepared via high-speed homogenization and sonication, then characterized using TEM, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential. Forty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were divided into healthy control, atherosclerosis model (16-week high-fat diet), and four 8-week oral treatment groups (simvastatin, berberine, nanoemulsion, or their combination). Serum lipid profiles, aortic histopathology (H&E), and inflammatory cytokine expression (qRT-PCR) were evaluated.
Results: The nanoemulsion exhibited a 250.4 nm hydrodynamic diameter (PDI: 0.3019), a −18.4 mV zeta potential, and a 117.32 nm TEM core size. Atherosclerosis induction significantly elevated serum LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol while decreasing HDL. All treatments improved lipid profiles, but the combination nanoemulsion demonstrated the highest efficacy, maximizing HDL and reducing atherogenic risks. Histopathologically, the combination therapy attenuated intimal thickening, lipid plaque formation, and endothelial hyperplasia. Furthermore, it most effectively suppressed atherosclerosis-induced upregulation of aortic TNF-α and IL-β expression.
Conclusion: The combined nanoformulation protects against atherosclerosis by normalizing lipid metabolism, mitigating plaque development, and suppressing vascular inflammation, serving as a promising adjunctive cardiovascular therapy.
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