ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR OXIDATIVE STRESS

Free radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce oxidative stress and cause cellular damage due to lipid peroxidation. There are three important steps in lipid peroxidation, namely initiation, propagation and termination. Formation of reactive aldehydes such as MDA and 4-HNE takes place when there is a catabolism of lipid hydroperoxides. Hyperlipidemia especially LDL-cholesterol may lead to development of coronary artery disease causing morbidity or mortality due to cardiac arrhythmias. Conventional hypolipidemic drugs have unwanted effects. Herbal therapy for Hyperlipidemia is getting attention due to their less frequent side effects. In this study we have compared hypolipidemic effects of Gemfibrozil with Nigella sativa. Seventy five hyperlipidemic patients from Jinnah Hospital Lahore were enrolled for study. After getting consent all patients were divided in three groups comprising 25 patients in each group. Group 1 was on Nigella sativa, group 2 was on Gemfibrozil and third group was on placebo therapy. They were advised to take drugs for two months. After completion of study pretreatment and post treatment values of LDL cholesterol were analyzed statistically. In Nigella sativa group LDL cholesterol decreased from 191.14±3.45 to 159.40±2.98 mg/dl, means 31.7 mg/dl LDL reduction was observed when compared with placebo group. In Gemfibrozil group of patients LDL cholesterol decreased from 197.77±3.91 mg/dl to 159.62±2.20 mg/dl, means LDL reduction in mean values was 38.2 mg/dl, when compared with placebo group. These changes are highly significant with p-values of <0.001. We concluded from this study that alternative therapy by herbal medication is as effective as by allopathic medication. Key words: serum lipids, oxidative stress, lethality, toxicity.