Obesity and overweight have recently drawn greater attention due to their central role in the rapid increase of metabolic syndrome disorders. The research pursuit for exploring novel and effective therapeutic alternatives to deal with obesity ailments and oxidative stress has received immense interest. In this study, different solvent fractions of Nigella sativa (N. sativa; Black cumin) seeds were prepared, and their phytochemical analysis was done. Among different solvent fractions, the methanolic fraction of N. sativa (MFNS) contained a high level of polyphenols (451.77±0.91 μg/mL) and flavonoids (401.24±0.73 μg/mL). The GC-MS analysis of MFNS showed the presence of several glycosides, oils, and polyphenolic compounds, as mentioned in the results section. The effect of N. sativa seed fractions on inhibition of key digestive enzymes linked to adiposity such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase was evaluated. The free radical scavenging activity of seed fractions was studied through standard antioxidant assays (DPPH and NO). The enzyme inhibitory effect of MFNS for α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase was 81.47%, 77.12%, and 84.26%, respectively, which were much higher than the rest of the N. sativa fractions. The MFNS at 250 μg/mL demonstrated considerable anti-inflammatory activity on RAW 264.7 macrophages, in terms of inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production (33.02%) and membranestabilizing activity (84.26%). In conclusion, our data suggest that MFNS of N. sativa seeds is rich in several bioactive phytochemicals that qualify it as an effective therapeutic alternative to attenuate free radical stress, inflammation, and obesity ailments.

INTRODUCTION: Excess energy intake and a sedentary lifestyle are the primary causes of the growing incidence of obesity and associated ailments, generally referred to as “New world syndrome”. New world syndrome is similar to metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), etc. 1.