Cold Press Black Seed Oil and Omega-3 and Its Beneficial Effects on Metabolic Function and Fatty Liver in Obese Model

Aim: Nigella Sativa seeds contain a high amount of Thymoquinone (TQ), an antioxidant. We therefore
hypothesized that Nigella Sativa oil would, through the antioxidant properties of TQ, ameliorate
obesity-induced hyperglycemia, and decrease blood pressure and OX-LDL in obese mice. The aim of
this study is to explore the effects of TQ and omega-3 PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) on
obesity-associated inflammation, insulin resistance and the metabolic effects of adipose tissue
browning.
Methods: Fat adipocyte, 3T3-L1 cells were cultured to investigate the effects of TQ and omega-3 on
the browning of WAT. Commencing at eight weeks of age, C57B16 male mice were fed a high fat diet
(HF) for 20 weeks. Mice were divided into four treatment groups of five animals each as follows: group
1) Lean, group 2) HF diet, group 3) HF diet treated for the last 8 weeks with 3% TQ, and group 4) with
3% omega-3. Blood biomarkers, antioxidant biomarkers, mitochondrial function and tissue fat
accumulation were determined.
Results: 3% TQ treatment resulted in an increase of energy-dependent genes and oxygen
consumption (P<0.05). TQ decreased fasting glucose levels and blood pressure (P<0.05) compared
to CA oil. TQ increased the levels of hepatic HO-1, mitochondrial Mfn2, PGC1α, insulin receptor
phosphorylation and decreased OX-LDL (P<0.05) and haptic apoptosis. Fat adipocyte, 3T3-L1 cells,
TQ and omega-3 reduced lipid droplet size and increased hallmarks of beige adipocyte proteins such
as UCP1, PRDM16, FGF21, Sirt1, Mfn2 and HO-1 protein expression, as well as elevated insulin
receptor. In the adipose tissue of HFD mice, TQ and omega-3 treatment attenuated levels of
inflammatory adipokines, hallmarks of beige adipocytes and mitochondrial biogenesis markers. In
addition to the adipose, TQ and omega-3 also increased inflammation and insulin sensitivity in the
liver and reduced inflammatory gene expression. Our data demonstrate the treatment with TQ in
combination with omega-3 may play an important role in decreasing obesity-associated fatty liver,
insulin resistance and reducing the chronic inflammatory state of obesity.